INSECTS TXJURIOrS TO THE POTATO. 



247 



to this during the late summer of 1894 there was an exces- 

 sive drouth, so that but feAv of the third brood matured. 

 Thus in 1895 there were very few of the insects to be seen. 

 Among the birds, the common crow, red-breasted Gros- 



FiG. 141. — Murky Ground-beetle {Harpalus caUglnosus) and Fiery 

 Ground- beetle {Calosoma calidum). (After Riley.) 



Fig. 142. — Larva of Murky Ground-beetle {Uarpalus caliginosus). 



(After Riley.) 



beak, and turkeys often feed upon this pest to a consider- 

 able extent. 



Probably the most destructive insect-parasite of the 

 larvae is a Tachinid-fly known to science as LydeUa dory- 

 phorcB Ril., which rather closely resembles the common 

 house-fly, both in size and color. A single egg is laid on 

 a potato-bug and from it hatches a small, footless maggot 

 which burrows inside the bug. When the larva enters the 

 earth, the effect of the maggot's work becomes aj)parent, 

 and instead of transforming to a pupa and beetle, it 



