254 



Beetles 



of the body. In most of the species the elytra are marked with fine longi- 

 tudinal lines or rows of punctures, and in several species the hind wings are 

 wanting, so that flight is impossible. There is something characteristic 

 and almost unmistakable about the general make-up and appearance of 

 these beetles. Their flatness, and smoothness, their shining black, greenish, 

 or brownish coloration, and their small head with prominent, projecting, 

 slender antenna;, pointed mandibles, conspicuous clubbed palpi, and bright 

 eyes, together with their equally characteristic haunting of hidden places 

 on the ground, their swift alert running, and readiness to bite when caught, 

 distinguish them, almost at a glance, from all other beetles. One of the 

 largest, most conspicuous and well-known Carabids is the searcher, or cater- 

 pillar-hunter, Calosoma scrutator (PI. II, Fig. 9), an inch and a half long, 

 with vivid violet-green elytra margined with reddish. It is commonly found 

 at twilight and after dark on trees, and is often seen by collectors when 

 "sugaring" for moths. It is said to make special war on the hairy tent- 

 caterpillars, and thus do much good. Two other species of this genus, 

 C. jrigidnm (Fig. 344) and C. cahdiim (Fig. 345), the latter 

 called the fiery hunter from its characteristic rows of reddish 

 or copper-colored punctures on the black elytra, are keen 



Fig. 344- Fig. 345. Fio. 346. 



Fig. 344. — Calosoma jrigidum. (After Lugger; natural size.) 

 Fig. 345. — Calosoma calidum. (After Lugger; natural size.) 



Fig. 346. — "Lsirva. oi Pteroslichus slriota. (After Schiodte; two and one-half times natu- 

 ral size.) 



hunters of cutworms, canker-worms, etc. At the other extreme of size 

 in the family are the tiny Bembediums and Tachys, some species of 

 which are but i^ij- inch long. The curious bombardiers, or bombarding 

 beetles (Brachina), when disturbed, spurt out with popgun sound and puflf 

 of "smoke" an ill-smelling, reddish, acid fluid from the tip of the 

 body. Comstock says that "these beetles have quite a store of ammuni- 

 tion, for we have often had one pop at us four or five times in succession 



