. Elementary entomology. Insects. THE BEETLES adults feed on many of our most noxious insects, ground-beetles must rank among the farmer's best friends. The larvae live in the ground, or in places similar to those of the adults, and are also pre- dacious. The larvae are elongate, the body tapering slightly at either end, with the strong jaws projecting in front and two bristly append- ages at the tip of the abdomen. Our largest common species is the searcher (Calosoma scrutator), whose wing-covers are a beautiful green or violet, mar- gined with reddish, and whose body is marked with blue, gol
. Elementary entomology. Insects. THE BEETLES adults feed on many of our most noxious insects, ground-beetles must rank among the farmer's best friends. The larvae live in the ground, or in places similar to those of the adults, and are also pre- dacious. The larvae are elongate, the body tapering slightly at either end, with the strong jaws projecting in front and two bristly append- ages at the tip of the abdomen. Our largest common species is the searcher (Calosoma scrutator), whose wing-covers are a beautiful green or violet, mar- gined with reddish, and whose body is marked with blue, gold, green, and copper. It fre- quently ascends trees in search of caterpillars, and, with nearly related species, often does good work in destroying large numbers of them when they become overabun- dant. A European spe- cies of this genus has recently been imported into Massachusetts to prey upon the gypsy- moth caterpillars. A medium-sized species with yellowish-red head and thorax and bright blue wing-covers (Lcbia grandis) (Fig. 195) has made a name for itself as an enemy of the eggs and larvae of the Colorado potato-beetle. Our most common species are from one fourth to one half an inch long, either shining black or with greenish, bluish, or coppery reflections, and very frequently fly to lights in considerable numbers. Their larvae feed on soft-bodied insects which go into the ground to pupate, such as the plum curculio and others, while the larger ones are among the most important enemies of cutworms and various FIG. 193. European ground-beetle (Calosoma sycophanta] imported to prey on the gypsy and brown-tail moths (After Howard, United States Department of Agriculture). Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Sanderson, Dwight, 1878-1944; Jackson, C. F. (Cicero Floyd), b. 1882.
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