216 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



COLEOPTERA (Order) 



SHEATH-WINGED INSECTS 

 BEETLES 



This is the largest order of insects and contains ahout as many 

 described species as all the other orders combined. It also comprises 

 iorty per cent of all the known species in the animal kingdom. 



The members are easily recognized by the hard, leathery wing- 

 covers or elytra, which hide and protect the functional second pair 

 of wings and the abdomen. All have biting and chewing month-parts 

 and undergo complete transformations or metamorphoses, there being 

 four distinct stages in the life cycle. The larva? are more or less 

 worm-like and all have six functional 

 legs excepting practically all of the 

 snout-beetles, or weevils, the larvae of 

 nearly all of which are legless. The 

 larva? of the June beetles and others 

 having a short, thick body are called 

 grubs. The pupal stage is quiescent. 



While most of the beetles feed on 

 plants, many are decidedly beneficial, 

 particularly those known as tiger beetles, 

 predaceous ground beetles and ladybird 

 beetles, and a great majority seem to 

 be of no real economic importance. 



CARABIDjE (Family) 



The members of this family are known 

 as predaceous ground beetles and are 

 very numerous. There are five joints to 

 the tarsi and the hind trochanters are 

 egg-shaped. The antenna? are inserted 

 on the side of the head between the base 

 of the jaws and the eyes. The adults 

 feed principally by night upon other in- 

 sects, being decidedly predaceous in their 

 habits. The larva? are flattened and pro- 

 tected above with a horny coat. They 

 live in or on the ground and feed upon other insects. The carabids 

 are usually considered exceedingly valuable because of the large num- 

 bers of destructive insects which they devour. 



Fig. 191. — The murky ground- 

 beetle, Har pains caliginosus Fab 

 Female slightly enlarged. This 

 insect is usually predaceous upon 

 other insects and is generally con- 

 sidered of much value to the 

 farmer. Occasionally, however 

 the adults feed quite extensively 

 upon the fruit of strawberry vines 

 and are responsible for some dam- 

 age. (Original) 



THE RED CARABID 

 Amara stupida Leconte 



Description. — The beetles are reddish-brown with the elytra slightly 

 darker than the head and prothorax, which are often decidedly red. 

 The antenna? and legs are amber. The elytra are strongly carinated. 

 The average length is \ inch and the width \ inch. 



Life History. — Though the life history of this beetle has not been 

 worked out it is well known that the adults and larva' are efficient pre- 



