. Elementary lessons on insects . Fig. 38.—A ground beetle, Calosoma sycophanta. This species was imported from Europe to prey upon the Gipsy moth in New England. recognized as occurring in North America. Many of these are small and obscure families, that need not concern us here: but the following fifteen are large and important groups; and represen- tatives of them should be avail- able for this study. We have already (page 15) glanced at the characters that are common to all beetles. Let us now note the family characters in a few of these. 1. Tiger beetles: Large, very active, strong flying
. Elementary lessons on insects . Fig. 38.—A ground beetle, Calosoma sycophanta. This species was imported from Europe to prey upon the Gipsy moth in New England. recognized as occurring in North America. Many of these are small and obscure families, that need not concern us here: but the following fifteen are large and important groups; and represen- tatives of them should be avail- able for this study. We have already (page 15) glanced at the characters that are common to all beetles. Let us now note the family characters in a few of these. 1. Tiger beetles: Large, very active, strong flying, diurnal, graceful, beautifully colored, predacious beetles found on sandy beaches. Note the metallic luster, the long legs, the sharp-toothed carnivorous jaws. 2. The ground beetles: Mostly flat-bodied, long-legged, blackish, nocturnal beetles found under stones and logs. They run rapidly to cover when disturbed. Note the fine sculpturing of the body, the predacious jaws, the slender antennae, the long legs and the long five-jointed hind tarsi. Many members of this family secrete an ill-smelling fluid that serves for their defense. The Bombardiers secrete a fluid that explodes like a little pop gun, producing a cloud of smoke to alarm and confuse a pursuer. The Bombardiers are yellow with dark blue wing covers.
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Photo credit: © The Bookworm Collection / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollecti, bookdecade1920, booksubjectinsects
