BENEFICIAL INSECTS, PUEDACEOIS AND PARASITIC. 3T 



ill the soil. Besides tlio glos^^y black forms which are 

 most commonl}" seen, mniiy are brilliantly marked with 

 gold, green, purple, and iridescent tints. 



The Fiery Ground-beetle {Calosoma caJidnni), so called 

 on account of the wing-covers being dotted with bright 

 gold, has many times been of great assistance in helping 

 to rid a corn-field of Cutworms. The larvae of this insect 



Fig, 16.— The Fiery Ground- 

 beetle ( Calosoma calidum). 

 a, beetle; h, larva. (After 

 Riley.) 



Fig. 17. -''The Searcher" {Car 

 losoma serutator). (After Ri- 

 ley.) 



are about one inch in length, of a dark brown color, with 

 the skin of a hard, horny texture like that of the beetle. 

 They have strong, prominent jaw\s, and at the posterior 

 end of the body is a forked appendage looking much like 

 another pair of jaws. It is not only surprising that these 

 larvae will eat so large a number of cutworms, as they have 

 frequently been known to do, but also that they will 

 dare to attack such a formidable creature fully tliree or 

 four times as large as themselves. But their assault is 

 sharp and vigorous, and a single larva has often been seen 



