246 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



The Life History of Carabs. 

 (Plate 30, Figs, i and 3.) 



These are often called the ground predaceous 

 beetles. The eggs are laid under logs, stones, etc. 

 The larva hatches out: it is an elongate grub with 

 very tough integument, and three pairs of strong 

 legs, for like the adult, this grub is predaceous and 

 hunts for other larvae, worms, etc., and moves very 

 quickly. At the end of its body are two processes 

 which aid in locomotion. It pupates in soft soil 

 under logs, or in rotting wood of logs lying on the 

 ground. 



Carabs being predaceous on other insects often 

 rid us of pests such as cutworms and weevil larvae. 

 A few species eat plant tissues such as seeds and 

 young corn. One of the commonest carabs found 

 under logs is the Notoiiomus, with a number of fine 

 lines running down its wing covers. It is a small 

 beetle about half-inch long. Clivina is another com- 

 mon rather slender carab found under logs in num- 

 bers in springtime. The handsome green metallic 

 carab, with long, very fine running legs, is called 

 Calosoma. We found the large handsome black 

 carab Hyperion under a log. It was nearly three 

 inches long — rather oblong in form with large 

 strong mandibles. The "Bombardier Carab" shows 

 a very curious method of protecting itself from 

 stronger enemies. When disturbed it emits a kind 

 of gas which is ejected from the end of its body 

 with a miniature "pistol shot" report, and the gas 

 becomes "smoky." This is done to startle its enemy 

 and to enable it to gain a little time to escape. 



