i9io.] 



Ground Beetles. 



389 



hide among the straw and litter of the beds and in the soil 

 itself. 



Damage to Strawberries. — The beetles sometimes make 

 their appearance in great numbers, with the result that the 

 complete crop may be ruined. A correspondent wrote from 

 Norfolk in July, 1907: "The destruction by these beetles 

 seems to have greatly increased in recent years. In 1897 all 

 the strawberries in this neighbourhood perished, but since, 

 there has not been trouble till the last four or five years." 

 A correspondent from Reigate wrote in 1906: "The straw- 

 berries have been practically destroyed this year. My straw- 

 berries were attacked in the same way three years ago, but 

 not in the last two years." A Sussex correspondent wrote : 

 "The beetles have attacked the crops of my neighbour to 

 such a degree that he could only get one pint of fruit where 

 he ought to have had bushels. This is the third year that 

 he has suffered from these pests." 





Harpahts 

 riljicornis. 



Pterostichus 

 vulgaris. 



Calathus 

 cisteloides. 



Steropus 

 madidus. 



Colour 



Black 



Deep black 

 and shining 



Black 



Shining black 



Length 



\ inch and over 



Up to f-inch 



Over g-inch to 

 about |- inch 



^-inch to about 

 |-inch 



Thorax 



Posterior angles 

 sharp and 

 projecting 



Squarish with 

 rounded sides. 

 A distinct fur- 

 row runs down 

 the upper sur- 

 face. On each 

 side are two 

 depress io ns 

 that run to- 

 gether 



Squarish. Nar- 

 rowed in front ; 

 wavy behind. The 

 posterior angles 

 are somewhat 

 rounded. A dis- 

 tinct furrow on 

 upper surface. 

 Base with two de- 

 pressions on each 

 side. 



Narrowingsome- 

 what towards 

 the base. Pos- 

 terior angles 

 rounded. Adis- 

 tinct dorsal 

 furrow. Base 

 with a depres- 

 sion on each 

 side. 



Wing- 

 Covers 



Dim, with a 

 grey or a yel- 

 low-grey pu- 

 bescence. 

 Striated 



Striated 



Striated 



Striated 



Flying 

 Wings 



An excellent 

 flier 



No fl y i n g 

 wings 



No flying wings ; 

 or represented, but 

 useless for flight 



No flying wings 



