INSECTS COLEOPTE11A DIAGRAM fi 



111 



Cicindelida. 



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 

 /"""SB l*r^\ anc ^ sma ^ insects. The cioindeJidffi 



* / #S \ ^ prefer dry and sandy ground. 



The BracJtini, or Bomladier bictlesmiiuk 

 resemble the cicindelidte ; 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 dis- 

 ag-reable vapour which stops or drives away the pursuing enemy. 

 The Carlai 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 num- 

 bers of caterpillars, and so they are the great- 

 est 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 pro- 

 duces a very acute pain, which is however 

 not followed by any serious con- 

 sequences. 



The Calo&omce 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 destroying many very de- 

 structive caterpillars. 

 Calosoma, 



Carabus. 



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