. Bulletin - Biological Survey. Zoology, Economic. INSECT FOOD OF THE BLUE GROSBEAK. 83 Injurious beetles comprise percent of the grosbeak's food, almost half ( percent) of which amount consists of members of the May beetle family (Scarabseida?). Adult June bugs, and their larvae, the white grubs, were devoured by some birds to the exclusion of other food, and 1 grosbeak had eaten 3 of the common dung- beetles (Aphodius fimetarius). Weevils are next in importance among beetles, and percent of the bird's seasonal food was made up of these pests. Many of them were scarred snout-be
. Bulletin - Biological Survey. Zoology, Economic. INSECT FOOD OF THE BLUE GROSBEAK. 83 Injurious beetles comprise percent of the grosbeak's food, almost half ( percent) of which amount consists of members of the May beetle family (Scarabseida?). Adult June bugs, and their larvae, the white grubs, were devoured by some birds to the exclusion of other food, and 1 grosbeak had eaten 3 of the common dung- beetles (Aphodius fimetarius). Weevils are next in importance among beetles, and percent of the bird's seasonal food was made up of these pests. Many of them were scarred snout-beetles (Otio- rhynchidse) and curculios (Curculionidse) ; some of them certainly were injurious species. Two grosbeaks selected the conspicuously red and black colored billbug (Rhodobmnus 13-punctatus). each eating 2. Leaf-beetles (Chrysomelidse), wood-borers (Buprestidse), click-beetles (Elateridse), and long-horned beetles (Cerambycida?), nearly all of which are injurious, were also devoured. The most important element of the animal food, however, is grass- hoppers. Crickets and long and short horned grasshoppers are eagerly consumed, composing percent of the total food. Thirty- two of the 51 blue grosbeaks ate them, several taking nothing else. They are fed to the nestlings in generous meas- ure qti/I wif>»rvn+ Fig. 39.—Lesser migratory locust (Melanoplus atlanis). (From ure, ana Wimout Lugger, Minnesota Experiment Station.) doubt are the most important single article of diet. During one of the historic out- breaks of the Rocky Mountain locust, the blue grosbeak was found to feed on other grasshoppers among the swarming hordes, and it is cer- tain that the pest itself was not overlooked. A very closely-related species, called in contradistinction the lesser migratory locust (Me- lanoplus atlanis, fig. 39), has been identified from the stomachs exam- ined. But little insect food in addition to that above discussed is con- sumed. A fly or a wasp is rarely secured, an
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