178 SNOUT-BEETLES— B ARK-BEETLES. 



stick, and this should be carried into effect as soon as they arc 

 noticed. In some cases they can also he driven to a layer of 

 straw, which is then burned. But as the larvae feed upon such 

 dangerous material as the eggs of locusts, it is in many cases bet- 

 ter not to kill the adults. 



C )f the larger and brighter species one of the most common 

 is a rather beautiful beetle, the Cantharis Nuttalli Say ; it meas- 

 ures over an inch in length, has dark, purplish or bluish-green 



Fig. 185. -Pomphopceaaenen, Fig. 186. -Meloeangus- Fig. 187. --Head of Snout- 

 Say. After Saunders. ticollis. Say. After beetle; g. s., gular suture. 

 Harris. 



wing-covers, and a metallic green thorax, head and abdomen. 

 It is sometimes very common in our prairies, where it destroys 

 wild roses and other flowers. It resembles the genuine Spanish 

 fly very closely, and should be gathered and sold to the manufac- 

 turing chemists. 



The Oil-beetlks (Meloe species), are also included, but they 

 are not numerous enough to cause any damage. Our common 

 species, the Meloe angusiicollls Say, is shown in Fig. 186. 



II. SUB-ORDER RHYNCHOPHORA. 



SNOUT-BfiETLES / BARK-BEETLES. 



This sub-order includes beetles commonly called Snout- 

 beetles and Bark-beetles, ten families of which are represented in 

 North America. The great peculiarity of these insects is found 

 in the head, which is more or less prolonged into a beak or snout, 

 sometimes longer than the remainder of the body, but usually 



