THE CALOSOMA BEETLE IN NEW ENGLAND. 3 



NATIVE HOME OF CALOSOMA SYCOPHANTA AND HOSTS 

 ATTACKED. 



This insect is known to occur in France, Germany, Switzerland, 

 Italy, and other European countries, being particularly abundant in 

 cases where there are unusual outbreaks of destructive caterpillars. 

 Its good work is mentioned in a number of European writings, 

 and it is known to prey extensively on the gipsy moth (Porthetria 

 dispar L.) and the pine sawfry (Lophyrus pini L.). As early as 

 1736 Reaumur published a general account of the life history of 

 the species, and valuable information has been published by M. G. 

 de la Pouge concerning his investigations of the larvae of this insect. 



Fig. 1. — Shipping box, with cover removed to show method of packing Calosoma beetles. 

 Each match box contains a single beetle and a small quantity of wet sphagnum moss. 

 (From Burgess.) 



INVESTIGATIONAL WORK ON CALOSOMA SYCOPHANTA. 



The year 1906 was the first in which these beetles were received in 

 large enough numbers that colonies might be liberated or a study 

 made of their habits. During that year considerable work was 

 carried on by Mr. E. S. G. Titus and Mr. F. H. Mosher, and notes and 

 observations on the behavior of the species in large breeding cages 

 were made by Mr R. L. Webster. During the following summer 

 the work Was placed in charge of the senior author, and since that 

 time detailed experiments have been conducted. Mr. C. W. Collins 

 has. assisted with this work during the entire period and for the 

 past two or three years has planned and executed many of the 

 experiments. 



