7G 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[April 1, 1868. 



sure to be visited by beetles (which in many cases 

 doubtless cause the complaint). 



The dwellings of our social Hymenoptcra — ants, 

 bees, wasps, and hornets — are all especially inhabited 

 by Coleopterous lodgers ; indeed, collecting ants'- 

 nest beetles is quite a study of itself. I may 

 remark briefly that where a nest is in a tree, the 

 bark, &c, should be carefully examined, and stones 

 and pieces of wood laid as traps ; in other situations 

 the nests can be sifted, stones turned over, and the 

 " runs " of the ants examined. Any attack upon the 

 nests of the other and more warlike insects must be 

 left to the collector's discretion (or valour) ; in the 

 hornet's nest he may find the giant " Devil's-coach- 

 horse" (Quedius dilatatus), which also occurs 

 about CbsMw-burrows, aud should in the latter case 

 be searched for by night, with a lantern. 



Trees, standing or felled, and whether in a sound 

 or rotten state, harbour a great many species. To 

 extract beetles from solid wood is no easy task, and 

 requires the most potent tools that can be obtained ; 

 a long and strong chisel, however, is handy in many 

 cases. Perhaps the majority of the wood-infesting 

 Coleoptera are found in the bark, which should 

 therefore be always very carefully examined, and 

 even broken into fragments where there is reason 

 to suspect a beetle-tenant. Under dry or loose 

 bark, also, very many species constantly occur, of 

 flattened habit of body, and usually predaceous ; 

 but a considerable number live either on the surface 

 of the solid wood, mining galleries beneath the bark, 

 or drilling their circular holes deep into the trunk. 

 Some also dwell in the topmost twigs, and in the 

 dry stumps whence boughs have been cut or fallen. 

 The best trees for wood-feeders and their parasites 

 are oak, beech, and pine, ash and willow also some- 

 times being good. The collector must in no case 

 despise old heaps of dead sticks or twigs, whether on 

 The ground or remaining on trees,or thrust into gaps 

 of hedges, since out of them many good things may be 

 beaten ; and he must especially look out for fungoid 

 growths on trees, which often harbour a profusion 

 of insects. 



In spring and early summer, woods must be 

 visited for beating purposes, the best trees being 

 oak, hazel, and dwarf poplar, and young growth of 

 the second year the most productive — large trees 

 being seldom of much use. " Beating about the 

 bush " is here the most direct way to success, and 

 an umbrella held open beneath the young trees, 

 which must be tapped with a stick, is a most 

 efficient receptacle for the results, being preferred 

 by many to the orthodox net above described. 

 Longicornex, Curculionidce, and Eupoda of varied 

 forms will repay the collector's toil. I have observed 

 that the best time for beating is just before a storm. 

 Darenth Wood, near Dartford, is one of the best 

 places for the metropolitan Coleopterist for this 

 work. It is of course needless to say that such 



conspicuous species as frequent wild flowers must 

 be looked after sharply at all times ; many of them, 

 however, must be " stalked " with care, as they are 

 often wary in the extreme. 



When the time for beating is over, sweeping 

 (always good) may be said to commence ; and 1 can 

 give no better advice than to try all plants and 

 places. Experience alone can here suggest a likely 

 spot for work, and a knowledge of the habits of one 

 species in a genus will often afford a clue whereby 

 its congeners may be found. Grassy banks in. 

 sheltered places, water plants, wild plants in hedges, 

 ragged and straggling roadside weeds, — all must be 

 tried. Sweeping beneath trees and in damp meadows 

 towards evening will be often found very remune- 

 rative. , 



" Book " knowledge is also here of great help, in 

 order to search for particular plants, &c, which are 

 known to be frequented by particular species ; and 

 many beetles not yet found with us may be dis- 

 covered by a reference to continental works men- 

 tioning their haunts and seasons. 



The edges of the banks of ponds and rivers will 

 always be good hunting-grounds ; they should be 

 stamped upon or broken away, and any plants pulled 

 up, so as to loosen the soil. Water dashed into the 

 cracks will often bring to light numerous lurkers. 

 The droppings of herbivorous animals must be 

 carefully examined, especially in sandy places, and 

 in the spring and autumn. If near water, they can 

 be broken up and thrown in, when the beetles will 

 appear on the surface. Marshes, heaps of cut 

 reeds, water-plants, &c, harbour myriads of beetles, 

 which also will be found by grubbing up roots and 

 breaking away the edges of the ground near the 

 water. Sugaring by night, as done by Lepidopterists, 

 will produce some nocturnal species, many of which 

 also come to light, like moths. 



In the autumn, the various species of fungus then 

 so abundant must be carefully examined, and will 

 be found to contain an enormous number of 

 inhabitants, even the puff-ball having its peculiar 

 denizens. 



I have no space to do more than refer to the 

 numerous water-beetles ; these occur in running 

 streams and rivers (usually at eddies, or near places 

 where the current is violent), in stagnant ponds and 

 brackish streams, the banks and shores of all of 

 which must be carefully examined for such as are 

 of sub-aquatic habits. Stones in running streams 

 beneath the "water often harbour many species; 

 and the net should be carefully drawn round the 

 banks and bottom, and especially among and round 

 water-plants. 



Finally, I would recommend all who have the 

 opportunity to endeavour to breed from the earlier 

 stages : to do this they must keep the larvae or 

 pupae as nearly as possible in their natural state. . 

 W r ood with larvaj in it may be brought home easily, 



