150 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



Edited by W. Hague Harrington. 

 The fixmily Carabidai contains a large number of species of beetles 



of predaceous habits, and co"sequently of importance to mankind in 

 destroyiug the larvae of obnoxious insects. The beetles are easily 

 found, as they mostly hide during the day under stones or similar 

 shelters, and many of the species are so abundant as to be seen hurrying 

 off whenever any stone or piece of wood is turned over in a field or 

 similar locality. The largest and most conspicuous of the Ottawa 

 species of Carabidas belong to the genus Calosoma, although they are 

 nearly approached in size by Harpalus coii^inosus, a large dull-black 

 beetle, which inhabits sandy fields, but is not coiDmon. 



Calosoma calidiim is abundant in fields and gardens, where it does 

 good work in destroying cutworms, and it is readily recognized by the three 

 conspicuous rows of fiery spots, or fovese, which ornament each elytron. 

 Occasionally a specimen occurs in which the spots are bright green 

 instead of coppery or golden-red, and in the west such coloration is 

 more common. Of a large number received from Rev. G. W. Taylor, 

 of Victoria, about seventy-five per cent, have the green foveas. This 

 beetle has a wide distribution in Canada, extending from Nova Scotia 

 to Vancouver Island. 



The probable occurrence here of the large handsome green 

 Calosoma scrutator has been noted in the present volume, and it is hoped 

 that its presence at the capital may be ver.fied, There is, however, a 

 third species which combmes some of the features of both the previous 

 beetles, approaching strutator in its shape and slender legs, but in 

 colour resembling calidum, and also in the ornamentation of the elytra, 

 except that the rows of fDvese, or punctures, are not so pronounced, and 

 that they are green. This beetle is not often seen and may be classed 

 with our rarer species of ground beetles. On 23rd May, 1883, a 

 specimen was taked under a piece of driftwood on the lower end of 

 Kettle Island, ab mt three miles below the city, and it was several years 

 before another was f lund, which was an accidental capture in the city 

 01 28th June, 1891. Last year, on the 12th June, in a corner of the 

 Hull beaver-meadow, on the margin of the woods, a large beetle was 

 seen running in the grass, and on capture it proved to be the species in 

 cjuestion : Calosoma frigiduin. 



