22 



GROUND-BEETLES. 



In fact most of the Carabida? are well protected by strong odors, 

 as those handling them have found out to their sorrow. But in 

 this case the beetles squirt the nasty fluid at their enemies, and 

 as it changes to a gas on contact with air, it looks as if the beetles 



Fig- 18. — Brachinus species. Enlarged. 

 After Brehtn. 



Fig. 19. — Lebia grnnclis, Hentz. Division 

 of Entomology, IT. S. Department of 

 Agriculture. 



were shooting in a wrong direction. A puff of smoke and a faint 

 pop is the result of such an explosion. This fluid colors the 

 fingers a persistent red, which shows that it is of an acid nature. 

 Of course this sort of defense is very effective, and we may 

 call these beetles "six-legged skunks." 



Fig. 20— Amara. obesa, Say. a, larva; b, pupa; c adult d, e, f, g, details o) 

 larv*. After Riley. 



