INSECTS. 
109 
the whole of its juices, leaving only the empty skin, to he blown 
away by the wind. 
Another description of a small spider, about the tenth of an inch 
in length, of a light-drab color, with two or more dark spots on its 
hack, was found very numerous inside of the involucre, or ruffle, of 
the cotton-bloom, hud, and boll, where it is said to he useful to the 
planter in destroying very young boll-worms. In many cases, where 
the eggs of the boll-worm moth had been deposited and hatched out, 
and the young worms had eaten through the outer calyx, and already 
partially pierced a hole in the young bud, or boll, it was frequently 
observed that no worm could he discovered inside ; hut upon opening 
such a ruffle, this small spider was almost invariably found snugly en- 
sconced in its web ; hence it was surmised that the young worm had 
entered between the ruffle and the boll, or hud, and had been de- 
stroyed by the spider, the nest of which was found in such situations. 
As all spiders are in the habit of destroying small, noxious insects, 
they may he regarded as beneficial, especially when the crops are 
preyed upon by the larvae of very small flies, such as the wheat 
midge, the Ilessian-fly, and many others. These insects, being con- 
stantly on the wing, flying about from plant to plant, to deposit their 
eggs, are very apt to become entangled in the webs, and to ho there 
destroyed. 
The spider itself, however, has enemies, one of which is the “mud- 
wasp,” so called. This insect builds cells of clay in out-houses, and 
under beams, or in other sheltered places. Their nests resemble 
small pieces of mud thrown up against a roof or wall, when wet, and 
afterwards dried by exposure to the air. 
THE CAROLINA TIGER-BEETLE. 
(Megacephela Carolina.) 
This beetle (PI. X. fig. 1) belongs to the family, cicindeladre, 
otherwise called “tiger-beetles,” from their savage propensities, and 
the beautiful spots and stripes with which their metallic wing-cases 
are adorned. These beetles are always hunting about the ground in 
search of insect food. A smaller and darker species especially de- 
lights in the glare and heat of the mid-day sun ; and, when disturb- 
ed, flies only a short distance, alighting with its head directed towards 
the object which has excited its alarm. 
The larvae of the tiger-beetle inhabits cylindrical holes in the 
earth, and, in these burrows, they wait patiently for any passing in- 
sect that may he crawling about on the ground, which, when within 
reach, is seized, dragged to the bottom of its subterranean den, and 
there devoured at leisure. They are of a dirty-yellowish-white, and 
are furnished with two hooks on the hack. In the Southern States, 
they are often taken by the hoys, by means of a piece of grass or 
straw, which being inserted into their dens, is seized by the insect in 
its crooked jaws, and held with such tenacity that it will not let go 
until, by means of a sudden jerk, it is brought to the surface of the 
ground and secured. 
