PLAN OF WORK AT LABORATORY. 13 



EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION OF CALOSOMA SYCOPHANTA AND 



HOSTS ATTACKED. 



An examination of the European literature gives very little data 

 concerning the distribution of Calosoma sycopJianta. It is reported 

 as being present throughout France and in Germany, and a few exam- 

 ples have been found in England. There is a single record of this 

 species having been taken in Ireland. Specimens have been received 

 from Italy, and it probably occurs in other European countries. 



Reaumur 1 published, in 1736, a general account of the life history of 

 this species and a description of the larva, although he failed to rear 

 the beetle. He states that he has seldom found a nest of the proces- 

 sionary caterpillars that did not contain from 1 to 6 of these larvae 

 feeding in the midst of their prey. This information has been quoted 

 by many subsequent writers. 



Burmeister, in a paper published in 1836, 2 says: "I have often had 

 occasion to observe this insect (Calosoma sycopJianta) , which is not 

 rare in the pine woods in the neighborhood of Berlin, in the larva, as 

 well as in the perfect state, in both of which I have seen it employed 

 in devouring the larvse of [PortJietria] Liparis dispar and other moths, 

 which are very common in the vicinity of the capital." Several other 

 reports mention its feeding on gipsy moth caterpillars. 



Westwood states that Nicolai has found this species in the forests 

 near Halle, Germany, feeding on PortJietria dispar and the pine sawfly, 

 Lophyrus pini L. 



Valuable information concerning the larvae of this insect and other 

 species of Calosoma has been published by M. G. de La Pouge, in 

 papers issued by the University of Rennes and in other publications. 



PLAN OF WORK AT THE LABORATORY. 



On taking charge of the work on predaceous beetles at the Gipsy 

 Moth Parasite Laboratory, plans were made to conduct it along two 

 distinct lines, viz, investigational work and field colonization. As 

 many important facts relating to the life history, food, habits, and 

 the possible influence that each imported species would exert in 

 checking the increase of the gipsy moth and the brown-tail moth were 

 unknown, it was necessary to make careful studies and investiga- 

 tions in the laboratory and field. This work required the utilization 

 of a considerable number of the live insects that were imported. The 

 main object, viz, the liberation of natural enemies in the field, has 

 never been lost sight of, and this feature has been given considerable 



attention. Field notes have been made concerning the conditions in 



* 



i Memoires pour servir a l'Histoire des Insectes, 1736, vol. 2, p. 455, pi. 37, figs. 14-19. 

 2 Trans. Ent. Soc. London, vol. 1, p. 235, 1836. 



