Report of the State Entomologist. 85 



Importance of Knowing our Many Insect Friends. 



The above communication is a strong argument in favor of the 

 importance of the study of the habits of insects by the economic ento- 

 mologist, and the distribution of the knowledge thus obtained through 

 publications easily to be understood, illustrated with good figures, 

 and accessible to all to whom they may be of service. 



It should generally be known that not all insects are injurious. 

 There are those that are the farmer's best allies, though often occur- 

 ring under circumstances so suspicious as usually to cost them their 

 lives. Of these are the numerous species of " lady -birds," or " lady- 

 bugs," which often abound upon sickly vegetation infested with 

 plant-lice, where they have been drawn to feed upon the destructive 

 aphides. Nearly all of the entire family of Ichneumonidce (ichneumon 

 flies) are of great service to the agriculturist, from the immense num- 

 ber of caterpillars which they destroy. Many of the Hemiptera (bugs) 

 l^rey upon caterpillars and other injurious forms. A large propor- 

 tion of the Lamjnjridce — the family of beetles to which the " light- 

 ning-bugs " or "fire-flies" belong — feed upon other insects in both 

 their larval and j^erfect stages. 



Appearance of the Larva of Chauliognathus. 

 It is to this last-named family (or the sub-family of Telephoridce) 

 that the insect pertains, of which inquiry is made. As stated, the exam- 

 ple sent was in its larval stage. It has the form characteristic of many 

 of the Coleoptera — a head of goodly size armed with stout jaws, a 

 thorax not much larger than the head, bearing six conspicuous legs, 

 and a long, soft abdomen, somewhat broader centrally. This partic- 

 ular one is dark brown in color and of a peculiar velvety appearance, 

 not differing greatly from some of its congenors. It was identified 

 by Prof. Riley as Ghauliognafhus marginatus (Fabr.). 



The Margined Soldier-Beetle, a Beneficial Insect. 

 It is the first time that the margined soldier-beetle (its common 

 name) has been noticed under circumstances that show it to be 

 entitled to a place among our beneficial insects, although its habits 

 were previously suspected. There can be no doubt but that it was 

 drawn to the fruit in such numbers as above stated (infesting one- 

 sixth of the entire crop), for no other purpose than to feed on the 

 common apple-worm, the larva of the codling moth, Cai-pocajx^a pomo- 

 nella. It would naturally, we think, enter the fruit in search of its 

 prey, thi-ough the hole already made by the apj)le-worm in the side 

 of the apple for the discharge of its excrements, and for its final exit. 

 But in the event of the hole being too small for entrance, its enlarge- 



