COLBOPTEEA, OE SHEATH- WINGED INSECTS. 247 



being more effective in this respect than the Beetles 

 themselves. They are about half an inch long, of a 

 bluish color with four or six yellow spots, and are seen 

 creeping along branches and leaves in search of the 

 plant-lice. After living in the larva state for a fortnight, 

 they fasten themselves on some leaf, 

 cast off their skins, spin a cocoon, and, 

 after a fortnight's sleep, issue as Lady- 

 birds. [ One of the species, the North- 

 ern Lady-bird, is seen in Fig. 190. It 

 is found chiefly on the pumpkin vine, 

 Fig- wo.— Northern where, in the company of their larv£E, 

 they feed on the Plant-lice and the lar- 

 vae of the Squash Bug. 



424. The Tiger Beetles, of which two species are 



represented in Figs. 191 

 and 192, are thus named 

 both on account of their 

 variegated colors and 

 their rapacity. They feed 

 on Caterpillars, Flies, and 

 other Beetles, and will 



Figs. 191, 193.— Tiger Beetles , , . , 



even devour each other 

 when shut up together. Their larvse or grubs are as 

 rapacious as they are themselves. They live in holes 

 which they dig in the ground. "When they are hungry 

 they come to the mouth of their holes, and there keep 

 watch, seizing the first insect that passes over the hole. 

 Though these grubs are soft and white, they have pow- 

 erful and well-armed jaws, with which they gratify their 

 rapacity. 



425. In Figs. 193 and 194 (p. 248) you have two spe- 

 cies of Caterpillar-hunters, so called from their habits. 

 They are very handsome Beetles. The green Caterpil- 

 lar-hunter, Fig. 193, is a great devourer of tfce Canker- 

 worm. These Beetles run about in the grass' after the 

 worms, and go up the trunks of the trees to capture 

 them as they come down. 



