INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



217 



dators upon man}*- injurious insects. Occasionally, however, the adults 

 injure berries, but to no great extent, and the farmer can well afford 

 to allow a slight toll for the very efficient work done in the destruction 

 of more serious insect pests. 



Distribution. — This 

 beetle occurs throughout 

 the central part of the 

 State and is especially 

 abundant in the Sacra- 

 mento Valley. 



Food Plants. — The fruit 

 of strawberries is often 

 attacked by the adults, 

 which may do serious dam- 

 age in a very short time. 



THE COMMON BLACK 



CALOSOMA 



Calosoma semilucc Leeonte 128 



(Fig. 192) 



Description. — The 



beetles are dull black 

 throughout and well illus- 

 trated in Fig 192. The 

 Length averages about § 

 inch and the width one 

 third the length. The larva? 

 are shiny black with white 

 areas on the sides and ven- 

 tral surface. When full- 

 grown they average 1 inch 

 in length. 



Life History. — The 

 adults and larvae appear in 

 February and March and during the spring and summer are often 

 quite numerous on roads and in the fields, where cutworms and army- 

 worms abound. Both stages live primarily on the ground and are 

 exceedingly active, the adults being specially fleet on foot. Their 

 attacks on other insects are usually vicious and their work often phe- 

 nomenal in the reduction of caterpillars. 



Nature of Work. — The young and adults devour caterpillars, which 

 they tear to pieces with the strong jaws. 



Fig. 192. — The common black Calosoma. Calo- 

 soina semil&ve Lee. Adults and larva?. Slightly 

 enlarged. (Original) 



12S There are four other common beneficial species of Calosoma in the State as 

 follows: Calosoma canceUatum Eseh. (Fig. 193) is about as large as C. semii 

 Lee, but is more elongate and has a slightly greenish color. It is found in most parts 

 of the State generally in fields and gardens. Calosoma simplex Lee. is also similar 

 to C. semilceve Lee, but is smaller and smoother on the back. It is abundant m the 

 southern San Joaquin and Mojave valleys. Calosoma luxatum simmermanm Lee. is 

 shorter and rougher than any of the above species and is also wingless. It is found 

 in the northern part of the State and in the high Sierras. Calosoma scrutator Fab. 

 is larger than any of the others mentioned, being about 1 inch long. The elytra are 

 iridescent green with a gold line around the margin. The remainder of the body 

 is dark metallic blue or purplish. The beetle occurs in the lower Sacramento and at 

 various places in the San Joaquin Valley. 



