3094 



THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



illse are hard and hooked at the end. The outer lobes of the maxillae are two 

 jointed and slender, and resemble palpi; which explains the fact that these beetles 

 are often described as having three pairs of palpi. The antennae are usually simple, 

 and never clubbed. The tribe is divided into the Geodephaga and Hydradephaga, 

 one subtribe containing terrestrial, the other aquatic forms. 



The Cidndelidtz consist of about one thousand known species, which are dis- 

 tributed throughout the world, but are much more abundant in tropical than in 

 temperate or cold countries. In Europe only two genera are represented Tetracha, 

 which comprises nocturnal and twilight-loving species, and Cidndela, whose species 

 are found in the hottest and sunniest places. The tiger beetles are extremely pretty 

 insects of remarkably active habits, and exhibit the predaceous type of structure to 

 perfection. Besides possessing great speed of foot, most of them make ready use 

 of their wings, and they are further characterized by large and prominent eyes, and 

 mouths well adapted for seizing and holding their prey, the mandibles being long 

 and provided with a number of sharp teeth, while the inner lobe of the maxillae is 

 furnished with a movable claw or hook at the tip. The fact that this hook is mov- 

 able and not firmly fixed 

 to the blade of the max- 

 illae, affords a means of 

 distinguishing the tiger 

 beetles from all the other 

 beetles of the tribe 

 Adephaga. More than 

 half of all the known 

 species of the family be- 

 long to the single genus 

 Cidndela, and this is the 

 only genus which is cos- 

 mopolitan. With the ex- 

 ception of a few species 

 of an almost entirely 

 ivory-white color, the 

 CidndeHdte exhibit 

 reenish, bronzy, or 



darker metallic tints, frequently varied with white or pale yellow spots and bands, 

 which in the case of a great many species run together to form more or less intri- 

 cate and pretty patterns. While their shape is usually such as is shown in our 

 figure of C. hybrida, we get, on the other hand, remarkable exotic forms, in which 

 the body is narrow and elongated, and broadest toward the hinder end. Collyris 

 and other genera of the various Oriental countries where the species are found 

 pursuing their prey on the trees in the forests afford examples of this type. From 

 its great resemblance in color and form to Collyris, a rare and curious longicorn 

 beetle, found in the same localities, has been named Collyrodes; and it has been re- 

 marked by Mr. Wallace that beetles of the family Cidndelidce are among those 

 most frequently mimicked by other beetles. 



TIGER BEETLES. 



Cidndela hybrida (with larva and pupa slightly enlarged); Collyris 

 longicollis (enlarged). 



