CHAP. XXI. BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 139 



erous Tiger-beetle (Fig. 241), which is of a dull purplish color, 

 marked with white, as in the figure. The Virginian Tiger- 

 beetle (Fig. 242) is of a dull brownish color. All of the Tiger- 

 beetles have filiform antennae, and ''their feet are five-jointed. 

 The larvae of the Tiger-beetles are provided with six legs, and 

 live in holes in the earth. They feed upon Cut-worms and 

 similar insects. 



The Ground-beetles also prey upon Cut- worms and other 

 insects, and, like the Tiger-beetles; have filiform antennae and 

 five-jointed feet; but unlike them, they have horizontal 

 instead of vertical heads. The Gold-spotted Ground-beetle 

 (Fig. 243) is of a brownish color, and has on each wing-case 

 three rows of sunken gold-colored spots. 



Another group of predaceous insects are the Lady-birds, 

 which have only three joints in their feet. These insects feed 

 upon plant-lice, scale-insects, small caterpillars, etc.; the 

 larvae (Figs. 328, a, and 332, a) are provided with six legs, and 

 when fully grown suspend themselves by the hind part of the 

 body; the skin on the back next splits open, and the pupa 

 (Fig. 328, b) by alternately elongating and shortening its body, 

 works the old skin backward until it covers only the posterior 

 part of the pupa, where it is permitted to remain; in due 

 time the skin on the back of the pupa is rent and the perfect 

 beetle (Fig. 328, c) is coming forth. 



Fig. 329. 

 Fig. 326. Fig. 327 Fig. 328. 



One of their largest kind is the fifteen-spotted Lady-bird 

 (Fig. 290); it varies in color from a dirty brown to cream; 

 its wing-cases are usually marked with fifteen black dots, but 

 both color and markings are changeable, as seen in the figure 

 (Fig. 290, dj ,/, and g). The wing-cases of the Thirteen-spot- 

 ted Lady-bird (Fig. 326) are of a reddish-brown color, and are 



