Fig. 66. 



is supposed to pass through its pupa state in the ground during the winter, appearing in the 

 beetle form early in the following spring. 



The beetles, of which over one hundred different species are known to inhabit North Amer- 

 ica.and about a dozen have been found in Canada, are provided with sharp cuttingjaws,three 

 pairs of long slender legs, which enable them to rpn with great rapidity, and a pair of mem- 

 braneous wings, concealed beneath the handsome wing-covers when not in use. They feed 

 upon small insects of every description, and must destroy incalculable numbers. The accom- 

 panying figures of some of our commonest species will enable the reader to 

 recognize them without difficulty. 



Fig. 66 represents thecommon Tiger -beetle {Ckindela 4'!(7^r(rw,Say), which 

 is found in great numbers all over Canada and the United States. It is a 

 little over half an inch long, and about half as broad, of a dull purplish colour 

 above, and a bright brassy green beneath. On each wing cover above are 

 three whitish lines of irregular shape, as seen in the figure. It is very com- 

 mon on roads and sandy banks throughout the summer. 



Fig. 67 represents the purple Tiger-beetle {C. purpurea, Riv.),a very hand- 

 some metallic purple beetle, nearly the same size as the preceding, in com- 

 pany with which it is often found. Sometimes it is greenish instead of pur- 

 ple. This is one of the first beetles to come out in the spring. We have 



Fig 68. taken it in numbers in April, and once as early as the 17th of 

 March, before the snow had all gone. 



Fig. 68. The hairy-necked Tiger-beetle, (C. JdrticolUs,Sa.j) 

 is another common species that bears a general resemblance to 

 C. vulgaris though smaller, and with the neck covered with whitish 

 hair, as the name implies. 



A most beautiful species is the Six-spotted Tiger-beetle, 

 {C.sex-guttata, Fabr.), a most brilliant metallic green insect, with 

 six tiny white spots on its wing-covers. It is sometimes found 

 in gardens, but more usually in partially shaded places, where it 

 chooses as its post of observation some projecting stone or log. 



It is rather difficult to capture, being exceedingly active in its habits, and 

 is not nearly so common as the preceding species. 



Fig. 69 represents another very handsome and«rather larger species 

 which is occasionally found in Canada. As all these beetles live upon other 

 insects, and devour enormous numbers of those that are injurious to us, we 

 beg that our readers, one and all, will abstain from ruthlessly trampling 

 them under foot in the future, and will rather encourage them about their 

 farms and gardens.* 



Fig. 67 



Fig. 69. 



2. Caenivorocs Geotjnd Beetles. {Garahida-). 



Next of the Tiger-beetles comes the family of the Carnivorous 

 Ground Beetles {Carahidcn). Under this general name are included a 

 very large number of different genera and species, which are found all over the 

 world and in all sorts of situations. In Canada we have over forty genera and an immense 

 variety of species already known to our Entomologists, and more are added to the listeveryyear. 

 Someof the species are the most difficult to determine of all our beetles, and afford an intri- 

 cate puzzle to the student ; the general features of the whole family can, however, be easily 

 learnt from a few specimens, descriptions and illustrations of which we now proceed to place 

 before the reader. 



* To avoid misapprehension we would state that in this account of the Tiger Beetle, and in those 

 that follow, we have quoted freely from our own contributions to the Canada Farmer. As our articles arc 

 scattered over a number of volumes and have not been published in consecutive form, we think no apology 

 is needed for their partial reproduction here. 



