CHAPTER III. 

 Clxe Ctfltcrptea. 



THE observations on the natural history of the New 

 :Zealand beetles, forming the subject of the present chapter, 

 are much less numerous than might have been expected 

 from the great number of species which have been de- 

 scribed. The difficulties attendant on rearing these insects 

 are, however, very great, and it thus happens that the life- 

 histories here given bear a smaller proportion to the num- 

 ber of the Coleoptera than will be found to be the case with 

 the majority of the other Orders. I hope, however, that 

 the few details I have collected, referring to the following 

 species, may induce some of my readers to investigate 

 -others for themselves. 



Group GEODEPHAGA. 

 Family CICINDELID.E. 



Cicindela tuberculata (Plate I., fig. I, la larva). 



This is a very abundant insect found throughout the 

 country in all dry situations. It delights in hot sunshine* 

 and may be constantly observed flying from our footsteps 

 with great rapidity as we walk along the roads on a hot 

 .-summer's day. 



Its larva (Fig. la) is an elongate fleshy grub, the head 



