The elytra of this cockchafer are readily distinguished from the transparent hindwings.

An elytron (plural: elytra) is a modified, hardened forewing of certain insect orders, notably beetles (Coleoptera) and true bugs (Hemiptera). Download high resolution version (758x614, 46 KB)From the de: Wikipedia. ... Download high resolution version (758x614, 46 KB)From the de: Wikipedia. ... Species Melolontha melolontha; Linnaeus 1758 Melolontha hippocastani; Fabricius 1801 Melolontha pectoralis; Megerle von Mühlfeld 1812 Note: there are many more species of Melolontha, but these do not occur in Europe. ... The more forward of the two pairs of wings of an insect. ... Classes & Orders See taxonomy Insects are invertebrate animals of the Class Insecta, the largest and (on land) most widely-distributed taxon within the phylum Arthropoda. ... Suborders Adephaga Archostemata Myxophaga Polyphaga See subgroups of the order Coleoptera Beetles are one of the most diverse groups of insects. ... Suborders Heteroptera Homoptera Hemiptera is an order of insects, comprising some 67,500 known species in two suborders, Heteroptera and Homoptera. ...

The elytra primarily serve as protection for the hindwings underneath, which are used for flying. In some groups, the elytra are fused together, rendering the insect flightless: for example, the ground beetles (family Carabidae). Hindwings are the second (caudal) pair of insect wings. ... Genera Many genera; see text. ...