46 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



alarming damage in its adopted home, for all its hereditary 

 enemies are lacking. The federal government is spending huge 

 sums of money in an. attempt to find natural means of check- 

 ing the Japanese beetle before it invades the entire country. 

 Tiger Beetles. The tiger beetles (Cicinde'la, Fig. 29) are 

 usually metallic, shining, bright-colored species, about one 



and a half centimeters in 

 length, with large heads and 

 prominent eyes. They are 

 found on sandy roads or 

 beaches, flying about while 

 the sun shines. Some of them are bright 

 red or green; some are brown or black, 

 with white markings ; and others are pro- 

 tectively colored, resembling the sand on 

 which they live. They run swiftly, and 

 when disturbed take flight, only to alight 

 at a short distance, often facing about so 

 that they can better watch the pursuer. 



The larvae are misshapen, dirty-white 

 grubs, living in holes which they dig in 

 sandy places. Two hooks on the dorsal 

 surface enable them to climb up and down 

 in their holes, which are sometimes thirty 

 centimeters or more deep, and prevent their being dragged 

 out when they have hold of their prey. Here, with the earth- 

 colored head even with the surface, they lie in wait, seizing 

 any passing insect with their strong jaws. 



Water Beetles. The whirligig beetles (Dineu'tus, Fig. 30) 

 are familiar oval insects found in groups circling about on 

 the surface of still water. They can see both below and 

 above the surface of the water, as the two eyes are divided 

 into four, and the parts separated so that watch can be kept 

 for danger from either direction. The whirligigs are pro- 



FlG. 29. Tiger 



beetle and larva. 



(Natural size) 



