150 



BRANCH ARTHROPODA 



habitat. The burying beetles (Fig. 120) (Necrdph'orus) pro- 

 vide food for their young by burying carrion, as a dead mouse or 

 bird. When it is covered over with earth the female lays her 

 eggs upon the carcass. They soon hatch and the larvae feed 

 upon the food thus provided for them. 



The food of the adult Coleop'tera also varies much. Some, 

 as the ground beetles (Carab'idce), are predaceous. Others, as 

 the carrion beetles, feed upon decaying animal matter, while 



Fig. 120. Necroph'orus burying a mouse, and larva. (Landois.) 



others, as the Colorado potato beetles, are voracious plant 

 feeders, making this order of much economic importance. 



Other familiar examples are the apple-tree borers, the 

 wire-worms, fruit and grain weevils, and the white grubs of the 

 June beetles (Fig. 121). 



The tiger beetles (Cicindcl'idce) are usually of a beautiful metallic green 

 or bronze, banded or spotted with yellow, though some are black, while 

 those living in white sand are exactly the color of the sand. They are 

 the most active of all beetles, running and flying well. The}' may be 

 found on bright warm days on dusty roads or along the banks of streams. 



