1900 SUPPLEMENT—RECENT INTRODUCTIONS, &cC. 
Beetles—continued. 
this very large family. To it belong several of the most 
destructive. insects found in gardens: the Turnip Flea 
Beetle (Fig. 133, Vol. IV.), the Colorado Beetle (Fig. 261, 
Vol. III.), the Asparagus Beetle, the Mustard Beetle, and 
the lovely, but scarce, Lily Beetle. The larve are fleshy, 
and, like the Beetles, are leaf-feeders. 
Cicindelide, or Tiger Beetles. These are sand- 
loving insects, flying and running with great rapidity; but 
the actual distance covered at each flight is not great. 
They are entirely carnivorous, and alike in the larval and 
the perfect insect form render good service to man. They 
capture their prey alive, and feed upon the juicy parts only. 
The larve are remarkable by reason of the fact that they 
lurk in their sandy burrows, supporting themselves in 
an upright position by means of a pair of strong hooks 
fonnd upon the fifth segment of the body. The jaws 
are extended ready to snap any insect which ventures 
within striking distance, and which is promptly hurried 
to the bottom of the tunnel. The perfect insects have 
a large head, with the clypeus, or face, extending laterally 
in front of the antenne. The eyes are prominent. The 
blade of the first maxilla has at the tip a hook-like pro- 
eess. The legs are long, and the tarsi (feet) five-jointed. 
Fig. 163 represents the common, bit beautiful, Cicindela 
campestris. The Tiger Beetles, so far as this country is 
concerned, are sunshine-lovers, and they are the most 
voracious of all our native Coleoptera, and most useful 
to gardeners. , 
Coccinellide, or Ladybirds. These Beetles are too 
well known outwardly to need any description, and 
they are amongst the gardener’s best friends, being useful 
in both the larval and the perfect form. They subsist 
largely on Aphides and Scale insects. The tarsi, at a 
easual glance, appear three-jointed, but closer investi- 
gation will show that 
the third joint is made 
up of two. The larve 
are very active, and 
before pupating sus- 
pend themselves by the 
hinder extremity. 
Curculionidz, or 
Weevils, are chiefly 
distinguished by a dis- 
tinct but variable-sized 
beak (rostrum), the ab- 
sence of a> labrum, 
small, short palpi, and 
elbowed antennzx. 
Usually both Beetles 
and grubs are destruc- 
tive, and all parts of 
plants, from flower- 
buds to roots, are laid 
under contribution. 
An interesting species, 
: found sometimes in 
gardens where there are Birches, is the leaf-rolling Rhyn- 
chites betule. The genus Otiorhynchus is a peculiarly 
destructive one, the Black Vine Weevil, O. sulcatus (Fig. 
164), being practically omnivorous. The larve are mostly 
legless, fleshy grubs, much wrinkled and curved. 
Elateridz, or Click Beetles, are of elongate form 
(see Fig. 34, page 29), with five-jointed feet, thread- 
like, saw-like or, less often, comb-like antennw, and a 
pro-sternal process which, fitting into the meso-sternal 
cavity, enables the insects to spring into the air when 
placed upon their backs, at the same time making a 
“clicking” noise. The larve are narrow and elongate, 
with hard skins and short legs, and constitute the much- 
dreaded Wireworms of the gardener and agriculturist; 
they live as grubs from two to four years, 
Vol. V : f: 
Fic. 163. COMMON TIGER BEETLE 
(Cicindela campestris). 
(Much magnified.) 
137 
Beetles— continued. 
Histeride are small shiny black or brown Beetles, 
ovate as to form, and with short, bent antennz, ending 
ina very distinct and compact club. 
The elytra are straight behind, and St 
leave two segments of the body ex- 
posed. The feet are five-jointed. 
The Beetles are predaceous in both 
the larval and the perfect state, and 
destroy numbers of noxious flies, &c. 
They are found largely in animal 
manures. The larve have neither 
ocelli nor labrum; the mandibles are 
powerful. 
Lucanide, or Stag Beetles. In 
this family is to be found the largest 
of British Beetles, Liscanus cervus, : 
whose formidable mandibles in the 
case of the male (Fig. 473, Vol. I1.), 
frequently toothed, are very distinct. 
The antenne end in a _ comb-like 
elub, particularly pronounced in the é 
male. It is doubtful whether these Fig. 164. BLACK VINE 
insects attack healthy trees. The __, WEEVIL 
larve live in oak and other trees (Otiorhynchus sulcatus). 
for several years; they are white, 
fleshy, semi-circular grubs, with a horny head. 
Malacodermide. This family -contains several 
species of great use to the gardener, as the larve are 
predaceous carnivorous insects, feeding chiefly upon 
snails. The best known is the light-bearing Glowworm 
(Lampyris noctiluca), whose wingless female and winged 
male have already been noted above. The feet are five- 
jointed. These Beetles are usually of elongate form (like 
the familiar Soldier Beetles, so numerous in gardens). The 
grubs of some; like those of the Glowworm, differ but 
little from the larviform females in the perfect insect 
stage. 
Scarabeide, or Chafers. This is a very variable 
family. Some individuals, like the dung-buryérs, are | 
useful to gardeners; while others (Cockchafer, June Bug, 
and Rosechafer) are very destructive. The Beetles of this 
family have much in common with the Lucanidz, though 
the plates terminating the antennz are more compact. 
The grubs also are like those of the Stag Beetles, but 
smaller. i 
Scolytide resemble somewhat the members of 
the Curculionide, but the beak is very short and 
broad. The antennez are short and compactly clubbed. 
The species are mostly wood feeders, and do damage to 
both fruit and park trees. They appear in vast numbers, 
and increase very rapidly. A tree attacked by these 
Beetles, if carefully examined, will be found tunnelled in 
all directions, the various batches of legless larve starting 
branch galleries from the vicinity of those made by the 
females when egg-laying. 
Silphida, or Carrion Beetles, include many well- 
known species, like the Burying Beetles (Necrophorus), 
which are useful, and at least one species which to 
gardeners is undesirable—the Beet Carrion Beetle (Silpha 
opaca), so destructive to Beet, &c. They vary in form and 
size, the familiar Burying Beetles’ being amongst the largest. 
The members of this family have usually (but not always) 
five-jointed feet and straight, clubbed antennw. The larve 
are active and campodeiform; their food chiefly consists 
_of decomposing animal and vegetable matter. 
Staphylinide, or Rove Beetles. A well-marked and 
very numerous family, formerly comprehended under the 
name of Brachelytra, on account of the short elytra. They 
vary considerably in size. One of the most familiar is the 
Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle (Fig. 225, Vol. I), or Cock- 
tail, a very intrepid insect, and one of the gardener’s 
best friends. Contrary to the general opinion entertained, 
T 
