456 



Insect Pests. 



Since then similar damage has been reported to me from Norfolk 

 (3) and AYorcestershire (4). Ormerod also records the damage from 

 Herefordshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire and Berkshire (1). 



The majority of " ground beetles " or Carabidre are beneficial, for 

 the}^ feed upon slugs, caterpillars, etc., in the soil, and at first some 

 doubt was expressed as to these insects being the cause of the damage. 

 That they are so is now beyond doubt. 



A popular name given to them in some localities is that of Bat 

 Beetles. At least four species seem to have acquired the bad habits 

 recorded here, but the one mentioned in the heading is usually the 

 most harmful. 



The damage is done to the green and ripening fruit. The beetles 

 eat the skin of the green fruit, leaving many of the seeds ; but when 

 the fruit is ripening I have noticed that they especially feed on the 

 seeds, which may be seen lying thick under the plants. The attacked 

 green fruit of course is ruined, withering up, and the ripe fruit is also 

 spoiled, even if only a small surface is damaged. It is not so much 

 the amount eaten as the quantity of fruit that the beetles spoil that 

 makes this attack so serious. On one occasion an attack was watched 

 personally, and the beetles were found eating quite large irregular 

 masses out of the fruit, damage which the gardener had put down to 

 the birds. 



Species of Beetles Tou^^d. 



The four kinds of beetles which cause this annoyance are known 

 as Ildfpdli's rujicoriux, Fab., I'fr/'osficJius ru/;/ai'is, Linn., Sicrojms 



1 -1 ■■■> \ /•'. K. 



FIG. 300.— STRAWBEKRY GROUND BEETLES. 



1, Pterostichtis vulgaris; 2, Harpahis ruficornis ; 3, Calathm cMelokUs. 



madidus, Fab., and Calathus cisteloichs, Panzer. They may be dis- 

 tinguished bv the following characters : — 



