He has six short legs, which he well knows how to use; he is a gad-about, a trot-about.

In the adult state the male is correctly garbed in wing-cases, like the true Beetle that he is.

The female is an ill-favoured thing who knows naught of the delights of flying: all her life long she retains the larval shape, which, for the rest, is similar to that of the male, who himself is imperfect so long as he has not achieved the maturity that comes with pairing-time.

Even in this initial stage the word "worm" is out of place.

We French have the expression "Naked as a worm" to point to the lack of any defensive covering.