144 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



species, the Gyrinus boredlis of Aub^, or northern 

 whirligig-beetle. Several large groups of beetles, 

 such as the Silphithc of Linngeus, from silpha, signi- 

 fying a stinking insect, and the NitiduUdce of Fabri- 

 cius, feed entirely upon carrion or decaying substances 

 fig. 19. of various kinds, and fungi, and can only be con- 

 sidered beneficial by removing these fruitful sources of disease 

 from the earth. The succeeding families of the coleoptera may 

 be ranked as either neutral as regards agriculture, or extremely 

 noxious and destructive. Among these are the " borers," and 

 the curculio families or weevils, — the May and rose-beetles, — 

 the " wire worms " or larva3 of the snapping beetles. These 

 groups are very large, and exercise a great influence on the 

 vegetable productions of the earth. The Lampyrida of Lin- 

 naeus, from the Greek lampyris^ signifying a glow-worm, 

 contains the " fire-flies " and other beetles with soft elytra, 

 many of which feed upon slugs and snails, and others upon 

 various insects. The Malachiidcc of Fabricius, from the Greek 

 mdlacos, signifying soft and appropriate to the texture of the 

 bodies and elytra of this family, and the Cleridcc of Geoffroy, 

 (from cleros, an insect found in bee-hives,) are also beneficial to 

 the farmer l)y devouring other insects. The ChrysomelidcB of 

 Linnaius, (from a Greek word meaning golden apple, which was 

 suggested by the plump, rounded forms, and brilliant metallic 

 colors of some of the s{)ecies,) on the other hand, are vegetable 

 eaters, and from their number and great fecundity are among the 

 most destructive to cultivated plants ; among these we find the 

 potato-beetle, Lema trilinedta of Olivier ; the striped cucumber 

 beetle, Diabr6tica vitldta of Fabricius; and the various "flea- 

 beetles," the most prominent of which are accurately figured 

 and described in the new illustrated edition of Dr. Harris's 

 work. 



The Coccinellidre of Linnaius, (from coccns, scarlet, in allu- 

 sion to the prevailijig color of the elytra,) are sometimes called 

 " lady-birds " or " lady-cows," and are well known to horticul- 

 turists as the destroyers of the Aphis or plant-louse, which 

 composes their chief food, especially during the larva state. 



Cuccifirlla novemnotdla of Ilerbst, the nine-spotted lady- 

 bird, is one of our commonest species, and has proved itself 

 one of the most useful, during the recent raid of the grain- 



