INSECTS COLEOPTERA DIAGRAM 



111 



Cicindela. 



resting from time to time when they are 

 too heavily laden. When their pit is 

 completed, they wait at the entrance 

 with their head out, and watch for ants 

 and small insects. The cicindelce prefer 

 dry and sandy ground. 



The Brachini, or Bombardier Beetles 

 much resemble the cicindelaj ; they derive 

 their name from the power they possess 

 of making a small detonation with the 

 end of their abdomen when pursued, and discharging a disagreeable 

 vapour which stops or drives away the pursuing enemy. 



The Carabi are beetles which do not fly. 

 They have elytra, but on lifting them up, 

 we find no wings underneath. Their corslet 

 is square. The carabi are very active : some 

 are black, and others have fine metallic 

 colours of green or gold. They destroy 

 great numbers of caterpillars, and so they are 

 the greatest friends to man, of their class. 

 Their body exhales a strong odour, and when 

 seized, they discharge a blackish, fetid, acrid 

 liquid from the mouth. If it falls into the 

 eye, it produces a very acute pain, which* 

 is, however, not followed by any serious 

 consequences. 



The Calosomce feed only on cater- 

 pillars. They live in trees, and their 

 voracity is extraordinary ; even when 

 they are satiated, they run after cater- 

 pillars, bite them with their mandibles 

 till the viscera extrude, and then leave 

 them to die ; they hunt their prey 

 unceasingly, and render valuable 

 service by distroying many very de- 

 structive caterpillars. 



Calosoma. 



Caralms. 



