COS COLEOPTERA. 



the pupa being torpid ; the mouth is mandibulate or chewing. 

 The wing-cases are called elytra, (Gr. coverings,) and are un- 

 suited for flight. Many of these Insects, particularly in the lar. 

 va state, are quite injurious to vegetation ; but at the same time, 

 they are, as a whole, very useful in diminishing the numbers of 

 other noxious or destructive insects, and in removing fungous 

 and offensive matters. 



(1) The TIGER BEETLES, Cicindetida, (from gen. Cicindela, 

 Lat. a glow-worm.) so called on account of their fierceness and 

 voracity, are found in sandy localities and dusty roads. They 

 feed upon other insects, are good runners, and fly with facility. 

 Those of the genus Cicindela are the most numerous. 



2. GROUND BEETLES, Carabida, (from gen. Cardbus, a crab, 

 i. e., crab-like,) are those which are commonly found under 

 stones and rubbish, and generally, but not always, nocturnal. 

 They are predaceous, feeding upon insects and larvae. The 

 colors are black, with blue and purple hues. 



The CATERPILLAR HUNTERS, Calosoma, (Gr. beautiful body,) in- 

 elude species having colors in which green and blue predominate. 

 They are found in trees, and lessen the number of injurious in- 

 sects which infest them. 



3. The DIVING BEETLES, Dyticida, (from gen. Dyticus, a 

 diver,) are large hardy insects, sometimes seen in water bordered 

 with ice. They feed upon minute fish, larvae and worms. 



4. The LADY BIRDS, or Lady Bugs, Coccinelhdce, (gen. Cocci- 

 nella, from Gr. kokkos, a berry, i. e., berry-like,) are well known, 

 small, hemispherical insects, having bright colors and often marked 

 with spots. (Plate XV. fig. Id.) They feast on gourd-like plants, 

 such as melons and pumpkins, but are of great service, both in 

 their larva and perfect state, in destroying the Plant-lice. The lar- 

 va is of a long oval shape, with a pointed tail ; of a black color, 

 with red and white specks, and a rough surface, (Plate XV. fig. 

 2b.) It changes to a short, blackish, oval chrysalis, or pupa 

 spotted with red, (a, c,) and which gives birth to its beautiful 

 inmate in May or June, (d.) The eggs of these insects may be 

 seen upon the under surface of leaves, in a cluster of thirty or 

 forty, placed in contact and gummed by one end to the leaf. 

 These hatch within a few days. 



5. The WATER-LOVERS, HydropJiilida, (gen. HydropUlus, Gr. 

 water-lover,) are found in ponds and ditches, or in stagnant 

 waters, which they seem to prefer. 



6. CARRION BEETLES, Silphida, (from Gr. silphe, a cockroach, 

 i. e., cockroach-like.) These include the Sexton Beetle, Necro- 

 phorus, (Gr. nekros, a dead body ; phoreo, I carry.) This is 



