346 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



hiding-place. Like all the members of this family, the gold beetle 

 possesses long, filiform antenna. 



The larva is much more rarely observed than the beetle. During 

 the day it is concealed under stones and similar retreats, and conse- 

 quently is of black colour. In accordance with its life aboyeground, it 

 is furnished with eyes. Its food, like that of the beetle, consists of 

 small invertebrate animals. It is accordingly armed with powerful 

 mandibles, and is a very nimble and active creature. The legs, though 

 well developed, are, however, not sufficient for supporting the flat, 

 elongated body, which moreover is covered with strong plates of chitin, 

 and hence the posterior end of the body is very prominent, and used for 

 supporting and pushing the body (see caterpillar of white cabbage 

 butterfly. Compare the gold beetle and cockchafer and their larvae in 

 reference to the points here discussed). The gold beetle is a useful 

 animal, and the same remark applies to its allies. 



Allied Species. 



Among these the Large Gold Beetle (Calosoma sycophanta) is dis- 

 tinguished, not only by its size (above an inch) and beauty (blue-black ; 

 abdomen broad, covered by gold-green wing-cases), but especially for 

 its services as forest guardian ; both the beetle and its larva running 

 up the trunks of trees in incessant pursuit of the- larvse and pupae of the 

 black arches moth, the pine lappet (Gastropacha pini), the processional 

 moth, and other injurious Lepidoptera. This beetle is called in Germany, 

 on account of its habits, the pupa-killer, but in England it is very rare. 



The Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris, about ^ inch) is 

 common in sandy fields, etc. On account of its green coat (which is 

 marked with five white dots) it is also called in Germany "the green 

 huntsman." And the beetle is a hunter indeed, pursuing its prey in 

 the warm sunshine both running and flying (wings well developed). 

 The larva also is predaceous. It digs cylindrical burrows running 

 vertically into the ground, from which it pounces suddenly upon its prey. 



The Corn Beetle (Zabrus gibbus) forms a single exception among the 

 ground beetles, being, like its larva, a vegetable-feeder. This' beetle often 

 does great damage to wheat-fields, the larva cutting down the growing 

 plants, and the beetles consuming the ripening grain. The beetle is 

 about \ inch long, and of dark (black) colour, in accordance with its 

 nocturnal habits. 



