38 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO STAPLE CROPS. 



to kill and eat in a short time several fnll-grown cutworms. 

 Many instances of the good work of this heetle are on 

 record, among which one by the late Prof. J. A. Lintner 

 might be cited, where he found them eating large numbers 

 of the Corn-crainbus — sometimes locally known as the 

 Corn Bud-worm. Another somewhat larger beetle, called 

 by Prof. J. H. Comstock ^' the Searcher" {CaJosoma scru- 

 t((ior), and in fact one of the largest of the family, is a 

 brilliant metallic green, bordered with a dark purplish 

 blue, and has the good quality of having a very particular 

 appetite, causing it to kill large numbers of caterpillars, 

 but eating only part of each. 



While in the earth as pup* large numbers of the Colo- 

 rado Potato-beetles are destroyed by members of this 

 family, and one species, Lehia grandis, which is peculiar 



Fig. 18. 



Lehia grandis. 

 Riley.) 



(After Fi(i. 19.— The Murk}- Ground 

 beetle (Harpalus culiginosuL . 

 (After Riley.) 



in that the wing-covers are somewhat abbreviated, thus 

 leaving the tip of the abdomen exposed, has been noticed 

 on the plants eating the eggs and young larvae of this old 

 potato pest. 



Another valuable species is one called by Dr. Riley the 



