INSECTS. 307 



who ignorantly attempt to stamp out all insect life, as 

 though these creatui'es were intruders upon their pre- 

 emption. The intelligent observer of nature will soon 

 learn to respect each aid, which has been bo wisely fur- 

 nished to assist him in his labors as a cultivator of the soil, 

 and all may ail mire the Wisdom that has provided at the 

 same time such beautiful and such useful creatures for the 

 work. 



Calosoma scrutator, is well named the handsome, for 

 it is one of our most beautiful insects of this class. This, 

 and the red-spotted G. caliduni, may be seen upon trees, 

 seeking caterpillars, upon which they feed. One of our 

 most intelligent hoiticulturists has so high an appreciation 

 of these insects, that he will not allow them to be dis- 

 turbed, and whenever he sees any caterpillars in his orch- 

 ard, he takes these beetles to the tree, and gives himself 

 no further concern, knowing that the Calosoma will soon 

 destroy eveiy worm. 



Cocciuelidae, or Lady-birds, are most valuable aids to 

 the cultivator, who is constantly liable to have his crops 

 destroyed by the various species of Aphides. These little 

 hemispherical beetles are familiar to every one, and known 

 to the children as Lady-birds ; but all may not know their 

 value, nor be so well acquainted with the larvae of these 

 insects, which are the chief agents in the destruction of 

 our troublesome plant-lice. Most persons would be very 

 apt to crush these curious, diminutive, lizard-looking crea- 

 tures, even at the time they were attacking the Aphides, 

 instead of leaving them to cany on the warfare more ef- 

 fectually without our aid. 



These little friends have had a superstitious regard shown 



