INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



291 



robbed of its norma] food plants, it turns to the cultivated crops as a 

 means of subsistence. With the continuance of cultivation their num- 

 bers rapidly diminish and also their destrue- 

 1 iveness. 



Distribution. — This species is limited 

 more particularly to the arid desert regions 

 of the southern and central parts of the 

 State. It was specially abundant in Kern 

 County during May and June, 1913. when 

 quite a serious outbreak occurred. 



Food Plants. — The leaves of apricot, 

 orange and plum are attacked and the trees 

 may be almost denuded of their foliage. 

 Watermelon vines are also injured. 



Control. — Poison sprays and baits do not 

 appear to give satisfactory results in the con- 

 trol of this beetle. Fortunately, it is only 

 occasionally a pest, and then for but a. short 

 time. For these reasons, it is not good econ- 

 omy to attempt control, except in extraordi- 

 nary cases. The beetles may then be kept 

 from climbing up the tree trunks by tin or cotton barriers, bid there 

 seems to be no way of adequately protecting vines growing close to the 

 ground except by wire screen coverings. 



Fig. 285. — The destructive 

 Eleodes, Eleodcs omissa borc- 

 alis Blaistl. Adult female, en- 

 larged twice. (Original) 



THE SMALL DARKLING GROUND BEETLE 

 Eurymetopon bicolor Flora 800 



(Fig. 2SG) 



Description. — The beetles are rather small and dull black' in color. 

 The elytra are faintly carinated and the antennas distinctly beaded. 



The length is about { inch and the width less 

 than I inch. Fig. 286 shows the general ap- 

 pearance. 



Life History. — Very little is known rela- 

 tive to the life history of many of the dark- 

 ling ground beetles, excepting that the larva' 

 greatly resemble the wireworms and live in the 

 soil. The adults also live on the ground, under 

 clods, leaves, or in the soil. Occasionally, 

 however, they attack growing plants and trees 

 and do great damage to foliage, especially in 

 the spring of the year. 



Nature of Work. — The beetles eat the foli- 

 age' of plants and trees and holes in the I'niil 

 of such low plants as tomatoes, berries, etc. 



Distribution. — The species appears to be injurious only in the 

 southern part of the State. 



20!l The identity of this species is questioned by Prof. FT. C. Fall. A closely allied 

 species, Eurymetopon cylvndricum Casey, has been reported attacking the foliage "i 

 prime trees al Nordhoff, Ventura County. (Inseci Life, V. p. 350, 1893) 



Fig. 286. — The small dark- 

 ling ground beetle, Euryme- 

 topon bicolor Horn. Adults, 

 enlarged twice. (Original) 



