Ground Beetles. 



[august, 



This variety is found in late summer on the ground 



in woods and gardens. It often appears in green- 

 houses. 



It may be distinguished from the edible kinds of Lepiota 



(Lepiota procera, Fig. 7, Lepiota rachodes, Fig. 9, and 

 Lepiota emplastra, Fig. 10), by the scaly stem. 



For several years past the Board have received, in the 

 months of June and July, complaints as to damage done to 

 strawberries by beetles, the specimens 

 Ground Beetles on examination proving to be Ground 

 (Carabidse). Beetles of different species. 



The Family Carabidce. — The Ground 

 Beetles are so called from their being commonly found on 

 the ground and under stones, moss, or rubbish, or in the soil 

 itself. The family Carabidce is a very large one, the in- 

 dividuals being characterised by their five-jointed tarsi, a 

 head generally narrower than the thorax, strong jaws, and 

 legs fitted for running. Some have functional flying wings, 

 others are wingless. The beetles are active, and are noc- 

 turnal in habit, hiding away in the daytime. The larva is 

 a six-legged grub with prominent jaws ; the body is elongated, 

 the joints being of about equal breadth. The larvse can 

 further be recognised by their possessing two horny bristle- 

 like projections at the tail end, with a tube-like process 

 between them. 



Ground Beetles as a family are carnivorous and predaceous 

 both as adult and as larva, their prey being to a great extent 

 insects. Some, however, have proved destructive to plants, 

 and amongst them the Board have received from various 

 correspondents: Harpalus nificornis, Fab.; Pterostichus vul- 

 garis, Linn.; Calathus cisteloides, Panz.; Steropus madidus, 

 Fab. These four beetles, either singly or together, have 

 proved very destructive to strawberries, and in one case in 

 Cheshire (June and July, 1907), Steropus madidus proved a 

 harmful enemy of mangolds. 



The four beetles named are common from south to north, ,: 

 and can be distinguished as shown in the table on the next) 

 page. 



These beetles are active after nightfall ; in the daytime they 



