32 CLOVER. 



width 'taken longitudinally of the insect) ; the three first segments 

 each with two impressed fovefe. Telum soft and unarmed, but with a 

 fleshy protuberance beneath, which is used as a proleg. . . . This 

 carnivorous larva is remarkable for having two processes, which spring 

 from the second joint of the antennae, instead of a single joint, as is 

 commonly the case in coleopterous larvae. 



" It is found during the winter and spring mouths at the roots of 

 grass and in decayed wood; it assumes the pupa state about the latter 

 end of April, and the perfect insect makes its appearance in May." * 



In De Geer's account of the habits of Teleplwms, with descriptions 

 of many of the species, given at pp. 57-79 of the ' Memoir' referred to 

 below, f will be found at pp. 68, 69 his personal observations of the 

 carnivorous habits of the Telephorus larvae which he especially watched, 

 both as to destroying each other, and also destroying earthworms 

 placed in captivity with them, so that of the three earthworms under 

 observation one was consumed, and the two others were attacked, and 

 of various of the Telephorus larvae nothing (beyond some remains) was 

 to be found. 



The surviving larvae were found on May 28th to have turned to the 

 pupal stage in the earth in which they were confined, without forming 

 any kind of cocoon. The pupae were about six lines in length, some- 

 what arched along the back, and the various parts of the forming 

 insect plainly discernible ; and during the month of June the develop- 

 ment of the beetles (in this case Telephorus fiiscus) took place from the 

 chrysalids. 



From the observation of Prof. Westwood that he had repeatedly 

 found Telfphorus larvae creeping about footpaths, in moss, &c., in the 

 winter and spring months, and also from the remark (p. 31, preceding) 

 of my own correspondent that he found the grubs sent me amongst 

 Wheat, it is presumable that they do us good service in clearing plant 

 vermin both above and below ground, and more observations as to 

 their habits would be useful. 



It is mentioned by Dr. J. B. Smith \ that the larvae "are especially 

 effective against such creatures as the larvae of the Plum cnrculio when 

 they enter the ground to pupate, and a large proportion are thus 

 disposed of annually." 



The very common " soft " beetles bear a strong resemblance to 



* See Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., vol. i. p. 31, and Plate III. figs. 3« to dg. 

 (Figure of larva, jaw, and extremity of antenni\3 at p. 80, preceding, are copied from 

 these figures.) 



t ' Memoires pour servir a I'histoire des Insectes.' Tome quatri^me. Second 

 M^moire, p. 57. Figures given at Plate 2 in same volume. Stockholm, mdcclxxiv. 



\ See 'Economic Entomology,' by J. B. Smith, Sc.D., Entomologist to the 

 New Jersey Agricultural College Experiment Station, p. 191. 



