62 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Other. These larvae were accompanied, in the proportion of about 

 one fourth by the grubs of the Melolontha ruficornis Fah. which, from 

 belonging to a group of insects eminently destructive to the roots of 

 vegetables, must have augmented the mischief. Messrs. Curtis and 

 Stephens have, indeed, doubted whether any portion of the injury is 

 attributable to the Zabrus, the latter author considering that it might 

 rather have been entirely caused by the grubs of the chaffer, and that 

 the larvae of the Zabrus (belonging to a decidedly carnivorous group) 

 contributed to lessen the damage by devouring the other larvae whilst 

 the perfect insect ascended the corn for the purpose of feeding upon 

 the insect parasites thereon, and hence questioning whether the de- 

 struction of the Zabri would be desirable. The opinion of Mr. Stephens 

 {lUust. Brit. Ent. Mandih, i. 140.) was adopted also by Messrs. Au- 

 douin and BruUe in their first volume. Contrary, however, to these 

 opinions, we have the express statements of Germar and Kollar [Naturg. 

 Sch. Ins.) : the circumstance of the imago eating the grain when 

 confined, the comparative paucity of the grubs of the chaffer, whence 

 it would happen, were the larvae of the Zabri really carnivorous, that 

 they would be unable to find sufficient food to supply their ravenous 

 appetites ; moreover, the grubs of the chaffer are subterraneous, whilst 

 it is stated that the young growing shoots were devoured, and lastly, 

 the circumstance that the perfect Zabri are constantly found in corn- 

 fields and even upon the ears of corn, crawling up the stems or 

 hovering upon the wing just above the heads of the corn, as Mr. 

 Vigors has informed me that both sexes may occasionally be observed. 

 The question, however, has been set at rest, at least as regards the 

 perfect insect by the Rev. G. T. Rudd, who has stated to me that he 

 and a friend distinctly perceived several specimens of Zabrus upon 

 the ears of corn, opening the husks and extracting and devouring the 

 grain. He has subsequently published an account of this circum- 

 stance in the Entomological Magazine, vol. ii. p. 182.* 



I have in like manner noticed several of the large black species of 

 Harpalides running about pathways near cornfields, especially in the 

 evening, and creeping from amongst the standing wheat, where it is 

 probable that they have been feeding during the day : their appearance 



* Messrs. Audouin and Brulle, iii the fifth volume of their work upon the Coleop- 

 tera, adopted this opinion, being contrary to that which they had entertained in the 

 fourth vohune of their work. Mr. Tulk has also informed me, that he has kept 

 several Zabri alive, for many months, feeding them upon grain. 



