INSECTS 37 



larva might also be mistaken for that of the latter, except for 

 its long, tapering neck. It has the habit of slowly approaching 

 its victim until near enough to make an attack. Then with 

 indomitable spirit the larva clings on to its capture, large 

 though it may be, hard though it may struggle, and shakes it 

 in a similar manner as a terrier does a rat. Very soon the 

 victim becomes less active, and death approaches. During the 

 struggle the blood of the unfortunate has been gradually, but 

 continually, passing up the sickle-shaped mandibles into the 

 ever-ready stomach. 



Whilst the members of the Hydradephaga lay their eggs in 

 the stems and on the leaves of water- weeds, the Hydrophilides 

 nearly always make an egg cocoon, in which the precious eggs 

 are safely deposited. Hydrophilus Piceus is the largest of 

 this family. The female forms a ball-shaped cocoon of closely 

 woven silk, anchors it to some well-submerged object by a 

 tiny silken rope, and eventually the eggs, which number about 

 fifty or so, hatch into minute larvae. Although, as previously 

 mentioned, the adult is practicallya vegetarian, yet her larvae are 

 as voracious as the young of Dytiscus, and savagely slaughter 

 the unfortunate inhabitants of the pond irrespective of size 

 and kind. When so engaged they have the peculiarity of 

 bending over in order to use their own backs as a table on 

 which to demolish their victim. 



Their life history is similar to that of the Dytiscus, the 

 larva eventually pupating into the adult, a beautiful large 

 bronze-coloured beetle of a harmless disposition. Helochares, 

 another member of the Hydrophilidae, although forming a 

 cocoon, does not leave the eggs to hatch as H. Piceus, but 

 fastens the egg-bag to her abdomen, and carries it about until 

 the eggs hatch. Each little egg is white, and the eyes of the 

 future larva can be clearly seen within. The mother uses her 

 hind legs to hold the bag, taking all care to prevent injuring 

 it, or losing her family. The eggs hatch into very minute 

 larvae of exceedingly savage dispositions, that bite and snap 

 from the very moment of hatching. 



As in the case of all other young water-beetles, cannibalism 

 is not only thought of but runs rampant, and the minute 

 beetles slaughter one another with perfect indifference. The 

 contrast between the parents and the offspring is extraordinary, 

 particularly in this case, for the adult Helochares is of a 

 gentle and quiet disposition, wandering over the leaves of 

 water-plants, partially surrounded by an air-bubble that 

 gives it a silver-like appearance, whilst her children are as 

 savage as the parents are docile in fact, so much so that 



