— 45 — 



their larvMl stages, feed upon the eggs of various locusts. 

 Especial!}^ is this true with respect to tliose species which are 

 most near]}' allied to the gray, black-dotted one found here. 

 Although this insect, has not, to my knowledge, been taken as 

 an enemy of the destructive or other locusts of the country, 

 judging from analogy, it is fair to presume that is has a similar 

 habit to that possessed by its northern relatives. All the blister, 

 beetles of ^vhich the life-histories are known are parasitic or 

 predaceous during their larval life ; hence, the " bicho moro " 

 if not an enemy of the destructive locusts must most assuredly 

 live upon some other insect form or forms that are relatively 

 plentiful. It must by some good deed partially offset the harm 

 it does by feeding upon our garden and other plants. 



Fig-. 1- '/i. — "ClinniiM" 111' Trox. 



" Cliampi." 



The '' Champi " of the natives is a ver}' important enemy of 

 pai'ciiieii^is here in Argentina. It has been especially active 

 during the past few months in destroying the eggs of this 

 locust. Both the mature insect and its larv;\,' or grubs feed 

 upon and destroy the eggs of the acridian in large numbers. 



These beetles (for there are more than a single species 

 whicli possess this habit) belong to the genus 7>o.v of the 

 family Scarab;eid;e. Ordinarily these insects feed upon dead 

 animals and animal-matter that has become more or less 

 desiccated. 1 low they have developed the habit of feeding upon 



