. Elementary entomology . The predacious diving-beetles (Dytisci- dae) are to be found in any pond, where they may be seen suspended at the sur- face of the water with the tip of the abdo- men thrust up so that air may be drawn in under the elytra, or diving here and there after their prey, which consists of any insects that they can overpower, small aquatic animals, and occasionally small fish. The largest species are about an inch long, while the commoner ones are one half or three fourths as large and are brownish-black, often marked with dull yellow. The hind legs are long, flattened, and
. Elementary entomology . The predacious diving-beetles (Dytisci- dae) are to be found in any pond, where they may be seen suspended at the sur- face of the water with the tip of the abdo- men thrust up so that air may be drawn in under the elytra, or diving here and there after their prey, which consists of any insects that they can overpower, small aquatic animals, and occasionally small fish. The largest species are about an inch long, while the commoner ones are one half or three fourths as large and are brownish-black, often marked with dull yellow. The hind legs are long, flattened, and fringed with hairs, forming admirable swim- ming organs. The larvae are elongate, spindle- shaped grubs, with strong, ferocious-looking jaws, with which they grasp and suck out the juices of their prey, which has given them the name of water-tigers. Whirligig-beetles. Every pool is the home of a school of the well-known whirligig-beetles (Gyri- nidae), which chase each other over the surface, where they feed on small insects which fall into the water. They are usually much smaller than the last-named family, are oval in shape, much flattened, of a jet-black color, and FIG. 194. A ground-beetle (Calosoma calidiim}. (Natural size)
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