24 
HoKNEI) LARKS IN RELATION To A.GRICULTURE. 
Fig. 5.— Destructive flea-beetle (Phyllotrcta 
vittata). (From Riley, Bureau of Ento- 
mology.) 
and their larva', the white grubs, are injurious. In the month of 
May 8.75 per cent of these are taken. The leaf beetles or chrysome- 
lids form a slightly larger portion of the food taken than the scara- 
beeids. The largest percentage, 1.1. of these eaten in any month is in 
August. In this family are found the harmful flea beetles, several 
Species of which have been identified from stomachs of horned larks. 
Hdltica ignita, which it is thought is 
likely to become decidedly injurious 
to strawberries and other plants in 
many parts of the country, and PJn/I- 
lotreta vittata (fig. .">). a species very 
destructive to young plants of cabbage 
and other garden vegetables, are eaten 
by the larks. The pale striped flea 
IfH mrj beetle (Systena blanda) (fig. <*>). in- 
\/^ r£* jurious to melons, sugar beets, etc., 
has been found in their stomachs. 
Passing to another family, the blister 
beetles, which often feed upon the 
leaves of potato vines, are also eaten 
by the horned larks. 
The most conspicuous element of the insect food, however, La 
weevils. These dull colored little beetles are eaten in every month 
in the year, and comprise 4.5 percent of the entire food of the 
horned larks. In May and June they form more than 8 percent 
of the food, and in August 18 percent. One hundred and fifty- 
nine birds ate them to the extent of 28.7 percent of their food. The 
weevils, as above stated, are 
dull and protectively colored, ^c *r 
and when disturbed feign death 
and drop to the ground, where 
their resemblance to bits of 
twigs or seeds enables them to 
escape detection. Thisdevice, 
however, seems to be of little 
avail when the sharp eyes of 
the borned larks are concerned. 
Mo-t of these little beetles are 
injurious, and some are among 
the worst of pests. The im- 
bricaled-snout beetle (fig. 7). which injures apple and cherry trees and 
strawberry plants, is often eaten. Bight California larks devoured 
more than \:> yucca weevils, the birds having an average amount of 
84 percent of these insects in their stomachs. Of the curculionids, 
or true snout beetles. Sitones injures grass roots and Phytonomus 
I 
■Pale si rlped flea beetle | Systena hUuuhi 
Chittenden, Bureau of Entomology.) 
