EXE. MHOS OF ORTHOPTBRA. 



29 



The egg clusters of locusts, crickets and other Orthoptera in 

 the ground are often attacked by the larval forms of bee flies and 

 blister beetles. The bee flies are of a blackish gray color, densely 

 covered with pale yellow hairs, and in -lime and July may often 

 be seen hovering above the ground, or feeding upon the honey of 

 various species of wild flowers. Their eggs are laid among or 

 close to the egg masses of the locust, and their larvae feed upon 

 and destroy myriads of the eggs of the locusts and crickets. 



A dozen or so species of blister beetles or "old fashioned pota- 

 to beetles" of the genera Macrobasis and E]>i<-<iuf<i occur in our 



Eastern States and in the winged or full 

 grown stage are often very injurious to 

 potatoes and allied plants. The eggs of 

 the blister beetles are laid in the ground 

 in late summer, and the larvae soon 

 hatch and move actively about in search 

 of animal food, in the form of egg 

 masses of other insects. They have often 

 been found feeding upon the eggs of lo- 

 custs and other Orthoptera and are un- 

 doubtedly of much aid in keeping within 

 bounds these injurious forms. 



Many of the ground beetles or Cara- 

 bi da? feed, during both their larval and 

 mature stages, upon locust eggs. More than 500 species of this 

 family of beetles occur east of the Mississippi, and all are bene- 

 ficial. In the mature stage they are long legged, rapid moving 

 forms, which mostly hide by day beneath logs and rubbish and 

 run actively about at night in search of some form of flesh upon 

 which they may make a meal. Since insect life is the most com- 

 mon form which they find on or beneath the ground, it is but 

 natural that most of their food is composed of it. The species of 

 Caloxoiim, A<i<>im<1cruN and IfarjxiJus. examples of which are fig- 

 ured herewith, are among the most common and beneficial of this 

 family of beetles. The larva 1 of Hurpiilus may, in autumn, often 

 be found feeding on the egg masses of the locust. 



Higher in the scale of animal life are many forms which are 

 among the best friends the farmer possess, yet many of them he 

 destroys on sight through ignorance of their beneficial habits. 

 Chief among these are skunks, shrews, moles, salamanders, toads 

 and snakes. Skunks are very fond of both grasshoppers and their 



Fig. 1 8. Macrobasis unicol- 

 or Kirby. The ash-gray blis- 

 ter beetle. Female. X 2. 

 (After Chittenden.) 



