236 STKAWBERRY. 



the delicate membrane. P. madidus is contracted into what 

 may be called a ''waist." C. cisteloides is commonly much 

 smaller than the other three kinds ; and P. vidgaris, which 

 has a strong general resemblance to H. ruficornis, is easily 

 distinguishable by this (nilgaris) being wingless, whilst ruji- 

 cornis is winged. 



The so-called " Ground Beetles," Geodephaga scientifically 

 (the sub-section to which the above-named Strawberry de- 

 stroyers belong), were formerly supposed to be almost entirely 

 of carnivorous habits, and we are indebted in a great degree 

 to the researches of Prof. Forbes, U.S.A., for information as 

 to the nature and proportion of vegetable food to be found on 

 dissection in many kinds of this predacious division.* 



In 1898, the Ground Beetles again appeared, and gave 

 opportunities of some successful observations of prevention 

 and remedies recorded under this heading. 



Of the Geodephaga it is noted by Mr. Eye that " superfi- 

 cially they may be known by their active habits, slaughtering 

 propensities, thin legs and antenna, and hard outer covering. 

 . . . The larvffi of the Gcodepliaga are little known ; they 

 are, however, mostly found in the same places as the perfect 

 insects. A geodephagous larva is usually flat, elongate, 

 parallel-sided, fleshy, with the head and first segment hard ; 

 the eyes are rudimentary, usually being compounded of six 

 small ocelli grouped together ; the legs are horny, six in 

 number, and situated on the first tbree segments ; there are 

 short jointed antennae and palpi, and powerful sickle-shaped 

 jaws, and the apex of the body has usually two horny or 

 fleshy appendages on its upper surface, the lower part being 

 lengthened into a membranous supplemental leg." — (E. C. R.)f 



The first observations sent to myself of what may be called 

 " straightforward " crop feeding habits of any of the above 

 four kinds of beetles were sent in 1885, when specimens of 

 Pterostichus {= Steropus) madidus, taken in the act of preying 

 on young Mangolds very early in the morning, together with 

 specimens of the Mangolds eaten through by the beetles a 

 little below the crown, were sent me from near Bishops 

 Stortford. 



No further observations of serious damage from Ground 

 Beetles were forwarded until 1894, when inquiries were for the 

 first time sent me regarding their attacks on Strawberries by 

 Mr. M. E. J. Dunstan, M.A., Director of Technical Instruction 

 for the County Council of Nottinghamshire. The species 

 identified were P. madidus, II. ruficoiniis, and C. cisteloides, 



* See 'Twelfth Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois, U.S.A.,' 1882, 

 pp. 105-116. 



-j- ' British Beetles,' by E. C. Rye, pp. 44 and 46. 



