fanatlian mntomoldjibt. 



Vol. XXXIX. LONDON, APRIL, 1907. . No. 4. 



HABITS OF SOME MANITOBA "TIGER BEETLES" 



(CICINDELA). 



BY NORMAN CRIDDLE, AWEME, MANITOBA. 



This paper is tiie result of two years' study and a number of years' 

 collecting in the neighbourhood of Aweme, Manitoba. It has no pretence 

 of being complete in all details or of taking in all the forms inhabiting the 

 Province, a very small portion of which has yet been collected over. The 

 species and varieties mentioned, with the exception of Jiirticollis and 

 pusilla, have been under personal observation, and all have been collected 

 within twelve miles of Aweme, which is in latitude 49°, 42'j the height 

 above the sea averaging about 1,180 feet. 



In working up the habits of these insects I have received much 

 valuable information through the generous assistance of Prof. Wickham, 

 to whom my grateful thanks are due. I am also under deep obligation to 

 Mr. E. D. Harris for supplying me with much information. 



The species are arranged according to Dr. W. Horn's Index. 



In habits, the Manitoba, and probably all the North American 

 species, could be divided into two groups ; namely, those which hatch 

 out in August, or thereabouts, and hibernate, and those species, such as 

 lepida^ which appear from pupte towards the end of June and die before 

 winter sets in. 



This somewhat interesting difference in habit has not, so far as I am 

 aware, received any marked attention, though I am inclined to believe 

 that it has been a factor of some importance in the modification of a 

 number of species. 



The individuals of the first of these groups, at the approach of winter, 

 search out a suitable situation and excavate a hole \\\ which they pass the 

 winter. The depth of burrow varies considerably with the different 

 species, and even to a marked extent in forms that are classed as sub- 

 species. The choice of a locality for hibernation varies according to the 

 species, but all seem to prefer a situation in which there is a slant facing 

 the south, so that they get full advantage of the sun. In investigating the 

 methods of hibernation I have fouftd that a shallow hole dug in the 



