42O 



ARTICULATES I INSECTS. 



SUB-SECTION IV. 



THE SUB-ORDER OF COLEOPTERA, OR BEETLES. 



THE Sub-Order of Coleoptera comprises insects whose 

 anterior or upper wings are represented by a pair of horny 

 cases, called elytra, meeting in a straight line upon the 

 top of the back, and often having a small triangular or 

 semicircular piece, called the scutellum, wedged between 

 their bases. The posterior or under wings are thin, mem- 

 branous, and, when at rest, longitudinally and transverse- 

 ly folded. Beetles are provided with two pairs of lateral- 

 moving jaws, and in the larva state are grubs, and undergo 

 complete transformation in coming to maturity. There 

 are probably a hundred thousand species in all. In the 

 classification of the Coleoptera, we follow LeConte. 

 CICINDELID^E, Leach, OR TIGER-BEETLE FAMILY. 

 Fig. 3 o8.^ This Family comprises brilliant -colored 

 beetles with large head, globose eyes, long 

 antennae, and very long and dentated man- 

 dibles. They prefer warm and sandy places, 

 run with swiftness, take wing on the slight- 

 est alarm, but soon alight again. They are 

 carnivorous, and very voracious, devouring 

 other insects in great numbers. The larvae 

 are soft, white, and provided with powerful 

 jaws, and, like the adults, carnivorous. They 

 dig vertical holes in the ground, F i g . 3 io. 

 in which they remain, the head 

 just closing the entrance ; and, 

 when some insect passes near 

 enough, they seize the victim and 

 drag it into their retreat. 

 Tiger-Beetles. The Genus Cicindela contains 



the principal species. The common Tiger-Beetle, C. vul- 

 garis, Say, is well represented by Fig; 309, and the Hairy- 

 necked Tiger-Beetle, C. kirticollis, Say, by Fig. 308. 



