HARPALUS CALIGINOSUS AS A STRAWBERRY PEST, WITH NOTES ON OTHER PHYTOPHAGUS CARABIDÆ

Extract

In nearly all of our books relating to beneficial insects, published within the last twenty years, there is almost sure to be found, some where, the figure of a larva tragically devouring a smaller larva, the larger having been originally figured as that of Harpalus caliginosus. Although attention has for some time been called to the fact that the larva thus figured really belongs to another species, the true H. caliginosus being as yet unknown, yet the use of the figure in its old application still goes on. The carnivorous habits of the beetle itself, however, have been pointed out by Dr. Lintner, in his Twelfth Report, p. 209, where it is recorded as feeding on the army worm, and in Insect Life, p. 228, Vol. VII., as feeding upon grasshoppers. The writer has also observed it preying upon other insects. For this reason, notwithstanding its known fondness for seeds and grain, it has been looked upon, generally, as a beneficial species, its known vegetable food consisting either of seeds of no economic value, or the amount of grain being too small to be taken into consideration.