INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



those of a chafer (Melolontha ruficornis, FABR.), in 

 the proportion of about a fourth.* 



To this account, Mr Stephens appends the shrewd 

 questions ' May not these herbivorous larva? [of the 

 chafer] have been the principal cause of mischief to 

 the wheat, while those of the Zabrus rather contri- 

 buted to lessen their numbers, than to destroy the 

 corn ? And is it not probable that the perfect insects 

 ascend the corn for the purpose of devouring the 

 insect parasites thereon? This is a subject,' he 

 justly adds, ' that requires investigation, as it is high- 

 ly important, for the interests of the agriculturist 

 in those districts where the insect abounds, that 

 the question should be thoroughly set at rest; be- 

 cause, should the Zabri depart from the habits of 

 the group to which they belong, and become herbi- 

 vorous instead of carnivorous, their destruction would 

 be desirable ; while, on the contrary, if they destroy 

 the devourers of our produce their preservation should 

 be attempted.'')" 



We have little doubt that Mr Stephens is right, 

 and Gerrnar wrong ; but it would be improper to 

 decide the question by analogy unsupported by direct 

 experiment. One thing is certain, that both this 

 family (Harpalidce, MACLEAY) and the whole sec- 

 tion (Mephaga, CLAIRVILLE) are riot herbivorous, 

 but carnivorous.J Similar errors will corne under 

 our notice, as we proceed, not more defensible 

 than that of the old soldier causing caterpillars in 

 France.^ 



Even when agricultural produce escapes being 

 devoured at the root, or the young shoots eaten up, 

 the seeds are often made the prey of the grubs of 



* Germar, Mag. der Entomol., i, 1-10 ; and Kirby and 

 Spence i, 169. 



t Stephens, Illustrations, i, Mandib. pp. 4 and 140. 

 $ See an Illustration in Insect Architect., p. 207-8. 



