USEFUL COLEOPTERA. 181 



Few of the larger species have functional wings. Legs thin 

 and long, for running, with five tarsal joints. Abdomen of 

 six to eight segments, the three first fused. 



Larvae long and cylindrical, with six legs. 



The beetles live through the winter under moss, stones 

 and pieces of bark, in old rotting stumps, etc., pair in the 

 spring, and lay their eggs in the ground. The larvae live 

 either in or on the ground, and eventually pupate in the soil. 



Both the larvae and perfect insects destroy other insects in 

 all their stages ; the larvae in particular are very voracious, 

 and mostly prey at night. The family is rich in genera and 

 species. 



The following large species are most useful in forests where 

 they occur : Carabus catenulatus, Scop., C. granulatus, L., 

 C. cancellatus, 111., Calosoma inquisitor, L., etc. 



Other species are found on the Continent, such as Procrustes 

 coriaceus, L., Carabus auratus, L., C. auronitens, Fabr., 

 C.sylvestris, Panz., Calosoma sycophanta, L. ; the latter, which 

 appears in great numbers when there is a plague of insects, 

 and seeks its prey in the crowns of trees, destroying the larvae 

 of destructive Lepidoptera, is especially valuable. 



Certain species of Harpalus and Pterostichus devour coni- 

 ferous seeds when covered with moss, and Zabrus gibbus, Fabr., 

 is destructive to young wheat. 



3. Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles). 



Perfect insects usually of small size, long-bodied, and 

 characterised by very short elytra, which leave the greater 

 part of the abdomen exposed. Antennae generally threadlike, 

 with 10 to 11 joints. Tarsi mostly 5-jointed, but occasionally 

 with three or four joints. 



The abdomen, consisting of 6 to 7 free segments, is turned 

 up at the approach of any possible enemy. 



The larvae are long, with six legs. The pupal stage occurs 

 mostly in autumn, and the beetles live over the winter. 



The mode of life of these very active beetles resembles 

 that of the ground-beetles. Both larvae and imagos of the 

 larger species feed on other insects, but from a forest point 

 of view they are of less importance than the ground-beetles. 



