FAMILY CICINDELID/E. 33 



As the cicindelse subsist solely upon other insects, or, in other words, are carnivorous, 

 they cannot be regarded as injurious to the farmer : they are rather beneficial than de- 

 trimental to his interests. Their markings, together with their predacious habits, have 

 given them the name of tiger beetles. It is evident, from the prominence and size of their 

 eyes, that they are well provided with one essential power to enable them to pursue suc- 

 cessfully the means of subsistence, namely, keenness of vision. So too their jaws or man- 

 dibles are powerful : their legs, however, are long and slender, and are adapted rather for 

 quick movements than for the performance of feats of strength. 



The larva? of the cicindelse are no less predacious than the perfect animal. They are 

 represented by Westwood and others as having a large head armed with powerful jaws, 

 and capable of burrowing in the earth to the depth of a foot. At the mouth of this burrow 

 they lie in wait for their prey, which they seize and drag to the bottom to devour at their 

 leisure. To aid in ascending and descending these burrows, they are provided with two 

 hooks on the back : some observers, however, suppose these hooks may assist in holding 

 their prey, when bent in a suitable manner ; for, on entering the mouth of the burrow with 

 their prey, they suddenly slide to the bottom. 



These insects, then, in all their stages, are predacious ; and inasmuch as their numbers 

 are less than those of many allied families, and their instincts are such as require a higher 

 development of locomotive apparatus, they may well be regarded as occupying the highest 

 rank in the articulated class. 



The Cicindelidje are in general easily distinguished : their colors are usually green or 

 gray combined with a brassy or bronzed tint, with whitish spots for ornament in combina- 

 tion with brindle spots or angulated lines, which give them all a pleasing and indeed an 

 elegant appearance. From their powers of flight, the cicindelse have sometimes received 

 the name of Eupterinca. 



The family Cicindelidje has been divided by Mr. Harris into the following groups : 



1. Labrum with three teeth ; thorax contracted behind. 



2. Labrum 1-toothed ; thorax quadrangular, flattened above and dilated babind. 



3. Labrum one toothed ; thorax nearly cylindrical. 



1. Labrum provided with three teeth; thorax contracted behind. 

 CICINDELA. 



The genus Cicindela, as defined by Westwood, is described as follows : The males have 

 their anterior tarsi elongated and dilated. The elytra are oblong-ovate and depressed. 

 Thorax subquadrate. Internal maxillary palpi with joints nearly equal in length ; the two 

 basal joints of the labial palpi short, the third is elongate and ciliate, and the fourth 

 clavate and naked. Antennas are inserted into the anterior margin of the eyes. The head 

 [ Agricultural Report — Vol. v.] 5 



