150 BRANCH ARTHROPOD A 



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

 vide food for their young by bur\-ing 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 ])rcdaceous. 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 ^■oracious plant 

 feeders, making this order of much economic importance. 



Other familiar examples are th(> apple-tree borers, the 

 wire-worms, fruit and grain wee\'ils, and the white grubs of the 

 June beetles (Fig. 121). 



The tiger beetles (Cirhxh'l'uhr) an' ns\ially of a hi-autiful metallie green 

 or bronze, banded or spottcxl with yi'Uow , though some are blaek, while 

 tliose living in wliiie sand are exai'lly the eolor of the sand. They are 

 the most active of all beetles, running and flying well. They may be 

 found on bright warm da>'s on dust>' roads or along the banks of streams. 



