ATTACKING THE FRUIT. 



185 



ground-beetles belonging to the Ca7'abldae; of tliese the 

 Pennsylvania ground-beetle, Harpalus Pensylvanicus (De 

 Geer), is by far the most common, and may be met with at all 



Fig. 194. 



Fig. 195. 



times during the season. Fig. 193 shows it somewhat mag- 

 nified, and Fig. 194 represents the larva of the same insect, 

 of the natural size, in the act of devouring a curculio larva ; 

 at b its formidable jaws are shown, mag- 

 nified. Fig. 195 shows a larva of one of 

 the larger species of this useful family, 

 magnified. 



The larva of the soldier-beetle, Chau- 

 ^^^M. ^^ liognathus Americanus (Forst.), is also a 

 1 ^'^E^^'Vit useful agent in destroying the curculio. It 



oy: 

 is shown at a, Fig. 196, and a magnified 



Fig. 196. 



Fig. 197. 



view of its head and jaws at b. This little friend often 

 works its way into the fruit in search of its prey, sometimes 

 entering it while still on the tree. The perfect beetle (Fig. 

 197) may be found during the summer on the flowers of the 

 golden-rod, SoUdago. The larvse of the lace- wing flies, of the 

 genus Ciirysopa, one of which is shown in Fig. 132, also 

 devour them ; and ants have been known to destroy the grubs 



