203 



peactes and pears, E. fulgida and E. sepnlchralis, Ligyrus gibhosus 

 ^carrot beetle) wliich is most injurious in the adult stage, Dyscinetus 

 irachypygus, Allorrhina {Cotinis) nitidu, Anomalo, spp., Cotalpa lanigera, 

 Aphodius gmtmrius, Canthon and Geotrupes. Copris, Onthophagus and 

 Phanaeus carnifex have also been found in the stomachs. 



Carabids constituted 1| per cent, of the yearly food of adult crows 

 examined, but nearly 4 per cent, of the food of nestlings compared 

 with 5| per cent, of that of adults during the same period, and com- 

 prised Calosoma calidum, C. externum, C. scrutator, C. willcoxi, Pasi- 

 macJius, Chloenius, Scarites, Harpalus, Euarthrus, Pterostichus, Amara, 

 Anisodadylus and Cratacanthus. 



The crow can not be considered an important factor in the control 

 of weevil pests as a whole, these insects forming only -59 per cent, 

 of its food. The only ones worthy of note eaten by adults and 

 nestlings are Hypera punctata (clover-leaf weevil) and Epicaerus 

 imbricatus. Other miscellaneous beetles comprise nearly 1 per cent, 

 of the crow's annual food, including small numbers of Silphids, Gtaphy- 

 linids and Histerids, but only a very small number of Elaterids (click 

 beetles) and their larvae (wireworms) have been found. Reports 

 render it probable, however, that the crow is a more efTective enemy 

 of the latter than stomach examination indicates, doing good work 

 during outbreaks of these insects. 



In many respects Orthoptera constitute the most important insect 

 food of the crow which annually consumes them to the extent of 

 7-34 per cent, of its food, the bulk of this being taken during the 

 latter half of the year. Grasshoppers form by far the greater part 

 of the Orthoptera eaten by the adults, while the nestlings, which 

 require still larger quantities of food for their rapidly growing bodies, 

 are of even greater value in regions where these insects are plentiful. 

 Crows have apparently no preference as to the species of grasshoppers 

 eaten, but several of the most destructive forms, especially Melanoplus 

 femur-rubrum (red-legged locust), M. bivittatus (two striped locust), 

 M. atlantis (lesser migratory locust) and Brachystola magna have 

 been recognised. Gryllidae (crickets) are eaten to some extent and 

 LocusTiDAE comparatively rarely, the latter being of little economic 

 importance over much of the crow's range, with the exception of 

 Anabrus simplex (western cricket), a notorious pest in the northwest. 



Lepidopterous larvae, being soft and easily digested are among 

 the first items suppKed to newly-hatched young, of whose yearly 

 sustenance they form 5-34 per cent, compared v,dth only 1| per cent, 

 of that of the adult bird. Noctuids (cutworms) were found more 

 frequently than the larvae of any other family, among those identified 

 being Alabama argillacea (cotton worm), Cirpliis unijnincta (army 

 worm), and Lajjhygyna frugiperda (fall army worm). In a limited 

 number of cases the larvae of Hemerocampa leucostigma (tussock 

 moth) and Palaeacrita vernata (spring canker worm) and the eggs of 

 Malacosoma americana (tent caterpillar) have been found. 



Bugs of various kinds form less than 1 per cent, of the annual food 

 of the crow, but 2-6 per cent, of that of nestlings, Pentatomids of 

 the genera Podisus, Euschistus, and Brochymena being most often 

 found, but never in large numbers. Tibicen septemdecim (periodical 

 cicada) stands out prominently among the Homoptera as an article 

 of diet, forming sometimes 31 per cent, of the food of young birds. 



(C560) b2 



