Beneficial Insects 

 2. TIGER-BEETLES 



(Figs. 5, 6 and 7, Plate IX, Page 27) 



Fig. 27. Entrance to Burrow of Tiger-beetle Larva. 

 There is never any soil at the entrance to these bur- 



Fig. 28. Same Burrow as show 

 head of larva resting on level wi 

 to seize a victim. 



the surface, ready 

 131 



The tiger-beetles 

 are common objects 

 about the borders of 

 fields or on beaten 

 pathways and road- 

 sides. They are lov- 

 ers of sunshine and 

 frequent exposed po- 

 sitions. 



The tiger-beetles 

 are the most agile 

 of all beetles, being 

 equally at home on 

 the ground, where 

 they run with amaz- 

 ing rapidity, or on 

 the wing. When ap- 

 proached they take 

 flight, fly a short dis- 

 tance, and invaria- 

 bly alight facing the 

 intruder. 



The larvae and 

 adults are preda- 

 cious, feeding entire- 

 ly upon other in- 

 sects. One author 

 states that the only 

 thing in common be- 

 tween these beetles 

 and their young is 

 their eagerness for 

 prey. 



The larva (Fig. 

 5, Plate IX, Page 

 27) is an uncouth 

 creature and spends 

 its entire existence in 

 a perpendicular bur- 

 row (Fig. 27, Page 

 131) in the hard 

 ground of some path 

 or roadside. During 

 the day it lies with 

 its head just at the 

 surface of the ground 

 (Fig. 28, Page 131), 

 its jaws open like a 

 steel trap, waiting 



