. The American entomologist. Entomology. 34 THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. lemale fly. The partiuulur species of Lacewing fly tliat preys in this iiiuniier upon the Cui-eulio hirva I was not alile to aseei-tain, as I tailed to breed the larva to maturity. But there is sueli a strong general resemblance between all the diftercut species of this genus, both in tlie larva and in the perfect slate, that scarcely any one but a professional entomologist could dis- tinguish one from anotlier when placed side by side. All the Lacewing flics, it may be remarked licrc, are cannibals, and they prey u
. The American entomologist. Entomology. 34 THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. lemale fly. The partiuulur species of Lacewing fly tliat preys in this iiiuniier upon the Cui-eulio hirva I was not alile to aseei-tain, as I tailed to breed the larva to maturity. But there is sueli a strong general resemblance between all the diftercut species of this genus, both in tlie larva and in the perfect slate, that scarcely any one but a professional entomologist could dis- tinguish one from anotlier when placed side by side. All the Lacewing flics, it may be remarked licrc, are cannibals, and they prey upon a great variety of noxious insects, including botli Plant- lice and Bark-lice. But wonders will never cease. It has hitherto been currently supposed that no insect, whether cannibal or parasite, preys upon the Curculio; and, so far as regards the parasites, I believe that this theory is correct. But now I discover a second species, and tliis time not a Neuropter- ous insect like the Lacewing fly, but a true Beetle (order of Coleoptera), which has appa- rently been engaged in the same ^(mhI work as his remotely-allied cousin. Inside a peach, whirli has been completely excavated by Curculio larvffi, friend Holcomb shows me the rare little Ground-beetle {Carabus family) figured in the [Fig. ] margin {Aspidoglossa stihcmgu- \ . Za^a,Chaud.,Fig. 25). What is "VVW/^' he doing there? Clearly he has « j^t J "O taste for vegetable food, for \flAr all the North American species 3R^ of the very extensive family to /B|H|F\ T which he belongs are, so far as / iH^HjN-J_ is known, cannibals. In all pro- / yKt \ bability he has been eating up / ^^ \ tlie miscliievous grubs that had coioi-shiiiy black, hoiieycombed tills peach! At all events, he is to be strongly suspected of so do- ing. To adopt Shakspearc's mode of reasoning: '' Wlio (inds the heifer dead, and bleeding IVesh, And sees fast by a butcher with an axe, But will suspect 'twas he that made the slaughter?" So
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