COLEOPTERA. 71 



colored spots or pits. This beetle eats large numbers of 

 cut- worms and wire- worms wherever they are found. 



Many of the ground beetles, all of which are beneficial, 

 are blackish-brown or black, and are often found running 

 about on the ground or over rubbish and manure piles. 

 These all have slender legs and are good runners. Their 

 business is honest and legitimate, and they do not hide 

 or skulk while they are about it. They are all predaceous 

 or are valuable scavengers, and should be carefully pro- 

 tected from injury. Take, for instance, the beetles to 



FIG. 29. The Searcher. 



which^ has been given the name Harpalus. These are 

 eminently helpful beetles. They are of various sizes, 

 pitchy-black in color, compactly built, thorax and abdo- 

 men of equal width, and the head about half as wide as 

 the thorax. The sclerite covering the pro thorax is nearly 

 square and meets the wing-covers in a smooth tight joint 

 without constriction or ridge. Some of these beetles are 

 known to frequent orchards, where they search for the 

 larvae of plum curculios and codling moths. Another 

 Harpalus likes especially the army worm. Some others 

 of the ground beetles are dull brownish-black, while others 

 have metallic wing-covers. 



