320 
MOLE CRICKET. 
likewise careful to prevent her nest from being plun- 
dered by the black ground beetles, who are supposed 
to be fond of the eggs : to check the ardour of these 
invaders, we are told the female is often posted as a 
sentinel near the nest ; and when the black enemy 
prepares to seize his prey, the watchful insect catches 
him behind and instantly bites him in two. 
The mole cricket feeds entirely on vegetables, and 
is therefore a great enemy to gardeners : it not only 
devours the roots of the common esculent plants, 
but makes great havoc in hot-beds, where many 
choice productions have been cut off by this insect. 
