232 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



of a chafer (Melolontha rujicornis, Fabr.), in the pro- 

 portion of about a fourth.* 



To this accouut Mr. Stephens appends the shrewd 

 questions — " May not these herbivorous larvae [of 

 the chafer] have been the principal cause of mischief 

 to the wheat, while those of the Zabrus rather con- 

 tributed to lessen their numbers, than to destroy the 

 corn ? And is it not probable that the perfect in- 

 sects ascend the corn for the purpose of devouring 

 the insect parasites thereon ? This is a subject," 

 he justly adds, " that requires investigation, as it is 

 highly important, for the interests of the agricul- 

 turist in those districts where the insect abounds, 

 that the question should be thoroughly set at rest; 

 because, should the Zabri depart from the habits of 

 the group to which they belong, and become herbi- 

 vorous instead of carnivorous, their destruction would 

 be desirable; while, on the contrary, if they destroy 

 the devourers of our produce their preservation should 

 be attempted. "f 



We have little doubt that Mr. Stephens is right, 

 and Germar wrong ; but it would be improper to 

 decide the question by analogy unsupported by direct 

 experiment. One thing is certain, that both this 

 family {Harpalidce, MacLeay) and the whole sec- 

 tion {Adephaga, Clairville) are not herbivorous, 

 but carnivorous. J Similar errors will come under 

 our notice, as we proceed, not more defensible 

 than that of the old soldier causing caterpillars in 

 France. 



Even when agricultural produce escapes being 

 devoured at the root, or the young shoots eaten up, 

 the seeds are often made the prey of the grubs of 



* Germar, Mag. der Entomol., i. 1-10 ; and Kirby and 

 Spence, i. 169. 



f Stephens, Illusfrations, i. Mandib. pp. 4 and 140. 

 I See an Illustration in Insect Architect., p. 207-8. 



