LAEVA OF THE TIGER BEETLE. 17 



On Plate I. Fig. 1, is seen the Wood TiaEU Beetle {Gicindela 

 eylvatica). This, although a really beautiful insect, cannot lay 

 claim to the splendid colouring which adorns its congener, the 

 Green Tiger Beetle. 



The colour of this insect is brown above, with a decided 

 purple gloss. The elytra have a cream- white curved mark at 

 the base, a narrow wavy mark of the same colour in the 

 middle, and a round spot close to the apex. Below, it is deep 

 bluish-green, often glossed with copper and purple. 



This species is found in various parts of England, and chie/'y 

 haimts sandy heaths and similar places. The reason for this 

 habit is, that in such localities the larva can find a home, and 

 the perfect insect a livelihood. The larva of the Tiger Beetle 

 is an odd-looking creature, having abroad flat head, armed with 

 sickle-shaped jaws, and the two next segments very large. 

 The eighth segment is developed to an extraordinary degree, 

 and is furnished on the back with two large tubercles crowned 

 with reddish bristles, and carrying two sharp recurved hooks, the 

 use of which will presently be seen. In consequence of this 

 peculiar form, the larva has been compared in shape to the 

 capital letter Z. The colour is whitish. 



These odd-looking larvae are burrowers, making tunnels in 

 the sandy soil nearly eighteen inches in depth, and a little 

 wider than the diameter of the body. They excavate in rather 

 an ingenious manner. With their jaws, assisted by their front 

 pair of legs, they scrape away the sand, and allow it to rest upon 

 the flat broad head. They then work their way up the tunnel, 

 and, when they have reached the orifice, throw off the burden. 

 The creature intends to make a perpendicular burrow, but is 

 sometimes obliged to alter its shape, in consequence of coming 

 across a stone or a furze-root. Sometimes, if a stone or root 

 happens to be a large one, the larva is obliged to abandon its 

 imfinished task, and begin another tunnel. 



On Plate I. are shown the tunnels of several species of 

 Cicindela ; the larva being shown in the burrow, and the 

 perfect insect near its mouth. The third burrow, that of 

 Cicindela germanica, is represented as only partially completed, 

 so that the larva might be shown in its attitude of repose. 



When the larva feels hungry, which is generally the case, it 

 ascends to the mouth of the tunnel, and anchors itself there by 



c 



