CHAPTER XIX 

 OUR INSECT FRIENDS 



NOT all insects are injurious. Some are decidedly useful, and 

 the useful species may be classified in two groups: 



1. Those directly beneficial to man, such as the silkworm, 

 honey-bee, lac insect, from whose activities we get shellac; 

 cochineal insect, the source of a beautiful dye; blister beetle, 

 used in medicine. 



Grasshoppers, classified as injurious insects, were used as food 



FIG. 365. Ground beetles. (After Brehm.) 



by some Indians, and became, to that extent, useful. White 

 grubs have been recently eaten and declared palatable. 



2. Those which, by destroying other harmful insects, are 

 indirectly beneficial. Again, the indirectly beneficial insects may 

 be further divided into four groups : 



(a) The predaceotis insects, which seize and devour other 

 species. They include: The ground beetles (Fig. 365), tiger 

 beetles, lady beetles (Figs. 366 and 367), or so-called "lady 

 364 



