98 CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



The order is divided into two primary groups or suborders, Coleoptera 

 genuina and Rhyncojihora. Coleoptera genuina includes the typical 

 beetles, with the mouth parts all present, and the head not elongated 

 into a beak or rostrum. In the Rhyncophora, or snout beetles, the head 

 is elongated, the labrum is indistinct, and the palpi are reduced to 

 small processes. These two suborders are further divided into sections, 

 tribes, families, genera, and species. 



Suborder COLEOPTERA GENUINA. Section PENTAMERA. 



The beetles in the section Pentamera all have five tarsal segments in 

 all the feet. The Adephaga, one of the four tribes in this section, are 

 the carnivorous beetles, and embrace four important families. 



The members of the family Cieindelidse are characterized by their 



metallic colors with light markings on the wing-covers, their graceful 



forms, rapidity of movement, and alert habits. They are commonly 



seen running and flying swiftly about sandy, sunny 



places. Both larvae and adults are noted for their 



rapacity and ferocity, and these traits, combined with 



the curious markings on the elytra, have given them the 



name of tiger-beetles. The larvae of tiger-beetles are 



repulsive in appearance, possessing large heads, which 



are bent at right angles downwards from the body and 



furnished with immense jaws and sprawling legs. They 



live in the sand in vertical burrows several inches deep, 



FIG. 85. Tiger- and in these they lie in wait ready to grasp any unwary 



beetle (Cicindeia -^^gg^^ ^^isit comes within their reach. To keep them- 



rapan). _ ^ 



selves from being pulled out by a larger insect than 

 themselves, they possess two strong small hooks on the back of the fifth 

 body segment. The pupal stage is passed in the burrow, also in the 

 last larval skin. The tiger-beetles, especially the larvae, are beneficial 

 to the fruit-grower, as they devour quantities of injurious caterpillars. 



The Capabidse are a family of flat, smooth beetles, usually shining 

 black, greenish or brownish in color, with small heads, prominent 

 slender antennas, sharp mandibles, clubbed antennae and conspicuous 

 eyes. They are active and swift runners, ready to bite when caught. 

 Most of them hide by day under boards, stones and the like, seldom 

 taking to flight, and hunting their prey at night. The larvae of many 

 species live in the ground, where they destroy quantities of burrowing 

 insects. The pupal stage is passed in rough cells in the earth, the 

 emerging adults pushing their way to the surface. 



The "searcher" or "caterpillar hunter," Calasoma scrutator, is one of 

 the most familiar and beneficial of the Carabids. It is especially 



