COLEOPTERA. CARABIDiE, gj 



The habits of the family are not, however, exclusively carnivorous 

 since some of the species generally found in cornfields are clearly 

 ascertained to feed upon growing grain ; thus Nicolai observes re- 

 specting Broscus cephalotes "in agris occurrit frumenti \astator videti(r, 

 certe ejus larva." (^Dissert. Inaugural. S^c. Halce, 1822, p. 12.) La- 

 treille also says " J'ai vu souvent Varistus bucephalus grimper sur des 

 graminees en arracher les bales et les emporter avec ses mandibules." 

 (^Regne Animal, vol. iii. 1st ed. p. 190.) : hence, he wq.s induced in the 

 Coleopteres d'Europe, to consider that the Scaritides were less car- 

 nivorous than the other Carabidae. Its larva, however, resembles that 

 of the Cicindelffi, both in form and habits ; and as the carnivorous 

 habits of another of the Scaritides had been previously observed 

 upon by him as above mentioned, it seems not improbable that the 

 circumstance noticed, of the Aristus thus feeding upon grains, 

 was accidental. The larvae of Zabrus gibbus {Jig. 2. 6.) also, upon 

 the authority of Germar and other German naturalists {Magaz. der 

 Entomol. vol. i.), which are produced from numerous clusters of eggs 

 a short time previously deposited by the females, feed during the 

 night upon the young shoots of wheat, occasionally doing great mis- 

 chief, as in the instance recorded by Germar, where 2:^0 acres of wheat 

 in the canton of Seeburg, near Halle, were destroyed by it. During 

 the day these larva; were observed to bury themselves in the earth 

 several inches deep ; they remained about three years in this state, 

 and attained their full size in June, when they formed for themselves 

 an oval cavity in the earth, sometimes two feet deep, in which they 

 became pupa?, appearing in the perfect state at the end of a month, 

 when they resumed their destructive habits by climbing up the stalks 

 and feeding upon the grain. When confined in a box in which 

 several ears of corn had been placed, they first fed upon the grains ; 

 and when they had consumed the whole, they then attacked each 



moveable spur being then presseil upon it, the insect would lie effectually secured, whilst 

 the spurs of the i)Osterior legs are supposed to be employed in securing a firm footing 

 upon the objects they wish to destroy or tear to pieces. The former of these sujjpo- 

 sitions is probably correct ; indeed, a direct observation in support of it will be found 

 in the account of the Cantharidw : the latter, however, is probably, less correct, since 

 many insects, which have the spurs of the hind legs much developed, are remarkable 

 for their leaping and shuffling kind of motion, as Orchesia, Platyura, &c. I 

 imagine that the claws alone are employed in retaining hold of objects by insects 

 whose tarsi are simple. 



