6. The Lebia constitute a sub-group, and are small, active beetles, some of them very beautifully marked. Many of this species are found on flowers. Numbers of the Lebia grandis, (6) a small beetle with wing covers and also thorax blackish, legs and head of a yellowish or ochre color, were taken feeding on the larvæ of the ten-lined spearman (Doryphora 10-lineata), so injurious to the potato in the western States, in the month of July. Some of the tribe Pterostichini are stated, by European authors, to injure grain. Calathus latus, (7) (Westwood, 1, p 63), a European insect, is said to injure young wheat. The larva of Zabrus gibbus, (8) also European, is said by Leunis to feed on the roots and shoots of grain, while the perfect beetle itself consumes the grain or seed of barley, wheat, and rye in Germany. Westwood, 1, p. 61, also mentions a similar fact; it would therefore be well for some of our entomologists to determine whether we have not some allied species in this country, injuring our grain crops. Some of the species of Amara (9) are also said to destroy grain in Europe. Harpalus (Pangus) Caliginosus (10) (Say, 2, p. 454) is a medium sized beetle, of a brownish black color, which diffuses a very pungent odor, like that of vinegar, when disturbed; it has been taken in great numbers in Maryland, under wheat stacks, and is commonly supposed by the farmers to feed upon the grain of wheat; it is probable, however, that these insects have collected together in such situations for shelter, or to feed upon other insects usually found in such situations. It must, however, be confessed that this beetle has been taken under very suspicious circumstances in an open field on timothy grass stalks, appa rently feeding on the seeds, when no other insect was visible to the naked eye, which might have been selected as its food. 10. Of the third family, Amphizoida, Dr. Leconte states that nothing is known about their habits. The fourth family, Dytiscidæ, have the antenne long and slender; their form is oval, elliptic, or rounded; and their hind legs are formed for swimming. These insects inhabit stagnant water, and are very voracious, feeding not only upon other aquatic insects, but also devouring fish-spawn or very small fish. Some of them occasionally fly by night from pond to pond, and are said to be attracted by a light. 11. One of the largest species, (11) Dytiscus hibri dus, (Lec.), was captured on the flat roof of a building in Maryland, at least four stories in height, where it had doubtless fallen during its nocturnal fight, and was unable to rise again. During the winter season the Dytiscidæ remain in the water, or bury themselves in the mud, where some of them remain in a torpid state, while others retain their vitality and activity even under the ice. The fifth family, Gyrinidæ, comprises those oval water-beetles usually known by the name of "whirligigs" or apple-bugs; the former local name being derived from their habit of swimming in large num bers in circles, or labyrinthine curves, on the surface of the water; and the latter name from the peculiar apple or calycanthus-like odor which they emit when taken in the hand. The European species deposits her small, cylindrical eggs, which are placed end to end in parallel rows, upon the leaves of aquatic plants; the larvæ are said to hatch out in about eight days, and to bear some resemblance to a young centipede. When they have attained their full size, they creep out of the water, up the stems of rushes or other aquatic plants, where they inclose themselves in oval cocoons, composed of a substance spun out of their own bodies, (Westwood, 1, p. 109). The perfect insect, if closely examined, presents the curious appearance of possessing four eyes, the organs of sight being divided by the side of the head. These insects are predaceous, and feed upon insects on the surface of the water. One of our most common species, Dineutes (Gyrinus) Americanus, (12) (Say, 2, p. 519), may be seen at all times, excepting in winter, circling around on the still pools of water, feeding on living or dead insects which float upon the surface. 12. The perfect beetles of the sixth family, Hydrophilidæ, (13) live upon decomposing vegetable matter, although their larvæ are predaceous and quite voracious. The majority of them are aquatic, and are distinguished from other water-beetles by their clubformed antennæ; their bodies are usually of an oval form, and the hinder legs are ciliated or fringed with bristles, and formed for swimming, or rather for paddling, in the majority. These insects do not swim with the agility of the Dytiscidæ, already mentioned; they generally keep in the water by day, but during the evening sometimes come abroad and take wing. The European species, Hydrophilus piceus, (13) feeds chiefly upon aquatic plants, although they also devour with avidity dead larvæ and aquatic molluscæ. The female spins a guminy envelope for her eggs, which amount to about fifty or sixty in number, and are disposed symmetrically in an upright position in their receptacle, which has somewhat the appearance of a small turnip, being nearly an inch broad, and which is attached to some plant until the larvæ are hatched, when it floats upon the surface of the water. The larvæ escape at the lower part of the cocoon, which is merely closed by a few threads. As larvæ they undergo three moultings, and feed upon aquatic mollusks and insects inhabiting the water. Hydrophilus triangularis (14) (Say, 2, p. 128) is a rather common species, and is found in ponds and ditches; the insect is of a shining black color. The fifth tribe, Sphæridiida, (15) are terrestrial in their habits, of small size, and feed upon putrescent vegetable matter which has passed through the bodies of herbivorous animals, (excrement). 14. The seventh family, Silphida, (16) feed on carrion, dead fish, snails, &c., &c., and are in some degree beneficial, inasmuch as they remove from the surface of the earth animal matter in a state of putridity, which would otherwise taint the air and become injurious to health. They are constantly found in carrion and the carcasses of animals. Some of the European species frequent trees, where they probably devour caterpillars. Both larva and pupa of Silpha lavigata (16) of Europe feed voraciously on live snails. Some of the larger species are commonly called sexton or burying beetles, from their habit of burying the carcasses of small animals, birds, &c., for the purpose of depositing their eggs in the buried body, where the larvæ, when hatched, find a sufficiency of food until they become pupa. These insects effect their purpose of burying small animals by undermining the carcass, until it gradually descends into the ground, and then covering it with earth. One of our best known species is the (17) Necrophorus marginatus, (Fab.), which may be found at any time during Ι 17. the summer or autumn, in carrion. The insect is of a black color, barred with chestnut or reddish brown. Necrophorus Americanus (18) (Lec.) is a much larger species, also feeding on carrion, but is especially found in dead snakes. The Necrophori are usually large, stout beetles, of a black color, barred with light brown on the wing cases. They exhale a very disagreeable carrion-like odor, and are frequently infested with a species of Gamasus, or mite. 11. Necrophila peltata (19) (Lec.) Americana, Melsheimer's catalogue, is a large, flattened beetle, with rugose, black wing cases, and thorax of a yellowish brown color, having a black mark in the middle; this insect feeds also on carrion. (20) Adelops hirtus, (Lec.), a very small brown beetle without eyes, belongs also to this family, and is merely incidentally mentioned as being found on bones, accidentally left in the mammoth cave, in Kentucky. The eighth family, Scydmacnidæ, (21) consists of very small insects, some of which are taken in ants' nests, but contain no species of interest to the farmer. This may also be said of the ninth family, Pselaphida, (22) which consists of very small insects, many of which fly during the twilight; their habits are various, some being found in ants' nests, while others occur under bark and stones. Leunis states that the European species, Clariger foveolatus, (23) is found in the nests of the yellow ant, which treat them with great care, occasionally taking them up in its jaws, when they would escape. Westwood considers it not improbable that the Claviger secretes a fluid analogous to that of the Aphides, or plant lice, from the setæ or bristles at the extremity of the abdomen. Müller also adds the curious fact that the ants in return feed the Clavigers from their own mouth. Many specimens of (42) Bryaxis were beaten off of swamp grass, in May, near a pond, by Mr. J. W. Wilson, of New York. I 24. 20. The tenth family, Staphylinida, or rove beetles, contains a great number of species, almost all of them, however, more or less distinguished by their long, narrow, depressed form, and by their very short elytra, or wing cases, which cover only a sinall portion of their abdomen, thus leaving many of the seg ments visible. Many of the larger species emit a very unpleasant odor when handled. They run and fly with equal agility, the wings, when unemployed in flight, being closely packed under the short wing covers. These insects are very voracious, and prey upon decaying animal and also vegetable substances, especially fungi. Several of the smaller species are very numerous on flowers, or under bark and moss. Westwood (1, p. 167) states that a small larva, (25) probably of this species, in Europe is said to injure wheat by eating the young plant about an inch below the surface, and devouring the central part, thus occasioning much damage. The eggs of the Staphylinida are of large size, and the larvæ bear considerable resemblance to the perfect insect in structure and habits. A very common native species, Creophilus villosus (26) (Lec.), was taken in great numbers, in October, from the body of a dead horse. This family, however, not being particularly injurious to the farmer, will be passed over. 26. The eleventh family, Histerida, (27) consists of insects of small size, square or oblong quadrate form, and of a shining black color. These insects possess the power of contracting their limbs and counterfeiting death; hence their common name of mimic beetles. The word "hister" is evidently derived from the Latin Histrio, a stage mimic. They feed upon both decaying vegetable and animal substances, and are found in abundance, in spring, upon the excrements of horses and cows. Other species, with flattened bodies, reside under the bark of trees, and some of the minute species are stated by Westwood to reside in the nests of ants. One of the sub-family, Murmidiida, (28) is stated by European writers to live in old rice. Family twelfth, Scaphidiida, thirteenth, Trichopterygida, and fourteenth, Phalacrida, are passed over, as being of no importance to the agriculturist. The fifteenth family, Nitidulida, (29) are usually small beetles of an oval, depressed, or slightly convex form; sometimes, however, they are almost globular, or elongate; they live on decomposing substances, both animal and vegetable. The second tribe of this family, Carpophilini, are usuually flattened in form, and have the last two or three dorsal segments of the abdomen uncovered by the somewhat short wing cases, resembling in this respect the Staphylinida. Colastus semitectus, (30) a small brown beetle, is found abundantly in the flowers, or decaying bolls of the cotton, and the decayed ears of maize in the field, where they probably feed upon minute fungi. Carpophilus hemipterus, (31) a very small brownish-black beetle having four light spots on its short wing covers, is also found in similar situations. Tribe 3, Nitidulini, (32) consists mostly of small insects, with bodies oval sub-depressed, 30. 33. thorax margined, and their bodies covered by the 31. made in grapes by Caliodes inæqualis, a species of curculio. Ips quadrisignatus (34) (Say, 2, p. 644), a small black beetle with four yellow spots or marks on the wing covers, is stated in the Practical Entomologist, volume 2, page 56, to burrow into sweet corn; most of the other species are found under the bark of trees. 34. The sixteenth family, Monotomida, contains no insects at present known to be of any interest to the farmer. The seventeenth family, Trogositidæ, consists of insects having the body more or less depressed, with short club-shaped antennæ; some of the species live under bark, while others injure grain. The larva of Trogosita (caraboides Fab.) (35) Mauritanica (Oliv.), a beetle of a brown color, is termed by the French Cadelle, and is very destructive to grain in granaries; it also destroys bread, and is found under the bark of trees. Trogosita dubia, (36) (Lec.), a very nearly allied beetle, was found in beech nuts; it also destroys wheat, maize, and other grains, in Maryland. The eighteenth family, Colydiida, (37) consists of small insects, usually of an elongate or cylindrical form, living under the bark of trees, in fungi, or in the earth. Aulonium (Colydium) paralellipipedum (38) (Say, 2, p. 324) was found in great numbers on pine trees, apparently eating passages under the bark. 38. The nineteenth family, Rhyssodide, is of no general interest to the agriculturist, and will, therefore, be passed over. The twentieth family, Cucujida, consists of small insects, almost always of a depressed, and usually of an elongate, form. Sylvanus Surinamensis, (39) a very minute beetle of a chestnut-brown color, and having several teeth or spines on the outer edges of the thorax, is found in wheat and maize; and several were taken out of passages or tunnels eaten in 40. 39. dried leaf tobacco. These insects may also be found dead in sugar, or floating in tea and coffee. Sylvanus bidentatus, (40) so-called from the two projecting teeth or spines on the front part of the outer edge of the thorax, is rather larger than the S. Surinamensis, and is also of a chestnut-brown color. Its larvæ are found under chestnut bark, where they probably feed upon the substance. Sylvanus quadricollis (41) resembles the others in general appearance, but has a quadrate or square thorax. The egg is deposited in maize, near the germ; the larva feeds upon the substance of the grain; it also has been found in rotted cotton bolls, and in this situation feeds upon the exposed seeds, in the month of August and of September. Nausibius (Sylvanus) dentatus (42) (Say, 2, p. 325) is also found under bark and in sugar. Læmophloeus (Cucujus) modestus (43) (Say, 2, p.327), a very minute chestnut-brown beetle belonging to the same family, was taken in hemp-seed, the interior of which had been entirely eaten out, and only the husk left. 43. 41. Family twenty-one, Cryptophagida (44); twenty-two, Derodontidæ ; twenty-three, Lathridiida; twenty-four, Othniida; and twenty-five, Mycetophagida, will be passed over, as they contain no insects at present known to be injurious to the crops, living principally on fungi, under bark, or in rotting vegetable substances. The twenty-sixth family, Dermestidæ, (45) consists of small oval insects, some of which are found in dried animal remains, others on plants only, and many of them are very destructive to objects of natural history, skins, bones, fur, feathers, books, &c. Lounis states that the European species, Byturus tomentosus, (46) is in the habit of frequenting flowers, and that the larva feeds, in June or July, on the fruit of the raspberry, and, from its habits, is called in Germany Himbeer-made, or the raspberry maggot. Kirby and Spence state that the perfect insect eats through the footstalk of the blossom of the raspberry, so as sometimes to prove fatal to the whole crop. Blackberries are also attacked in a similar manner. Byturus unicolor (47) (Say, 2, p. 126), of this country, is a small insect of a light brown color, found frequently in flowers. Dermestes vulpinus, (48) a 48. small beetle of a blackish-brown color, is found in almost every country, and at one time was so injurious to the large skin warehouses in London that a reward of £20,000 was offered for an available remedy, without, however, any being discovered. This insect is also injurious to cork, and sometimes very destructive in collections of natural history, entomology, &c. Dermestes lardarius (49) is of a yellow and bluish-black color, and destroys furs, meats, &c., and also is very injurious to collections of natural history. The larva sheds its skin several times, and is covered with bristly hairs; it usually creeps on the surface of the meat, preferring the fat parts, 49. |