File:Image from page 075 of "Introduction to zoology; a guide to the study of animals, for the use of secondary schools;" (1900) (14598266680).jpg

Identifier: introductiontozo00dave Title: Introduction to zoology; a guide to the study of animals, for the use of secondary schools; Year: 1900 (1900s) Authors: Davenport, Charles Benedict, 1866-1944 Davenport, Gertrude Anna Crotty, 1866- Subjects: Zoology Publisher: New York, Macmillan company London, Macmillian and co., ltd. Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library

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Text Appearing Before Image: d, two-spotted one (Adaliai>pun data). The food of beetles is, as wehave seen, extremely varied, pIG. <;i. more varied, indeed, than that of Anbtisocel-FIG. CO.—Pupa of ,, if-- lata. Adult. Aiiatisvcellutaon anJ Other Order Ot insects ; WOOd- Nat. size. a leaf. Nat. size, fibre, bark of living or dead trees, Photo- b^ Photo, by V.H.L. . , V.H.L. leat and stem tissue, nuts, truits, grains, insects, adult and larval and dead animals of vari-ous sorts, are all utilized by them as food. Those beetleswhich destroy living plants, or which feed on fruitsand grains utilized by man, those which burrow in tim-ber, devour meat or articles of humanindustry and collections prized by man,may be ranked as economically injuri-ous. One species, indeed, is injuriousas a parasite of a useful animal; this isa curious beaver parasite, Platypsylla 1castoria,2 In so far as certain predaceousbeetles feed upon other carnivorousspecies of insects, as do certain tigercarrion beetles, or upon small fish,

Text Appearing After Image: FIG. fi2. — Platypsyllacastoria, the beaver as do some of the Dytiscidse, or upon parasite. From -• j. • i TI • -IT P.I Packard. domestic bees, like certain allies ot the weevils, they may be indirectly injur-ing man. Of all the families of beetles, probably the leaf-eaters cause greatest destruction; next to them come theweevils, followed by the Cerambycidse and the others. s, broad; \j/v\\a, a flea. 2 Fte. 62. THE BEETLE AND ITS ALLIES 57 Every part of the plant has its coleopterous enemy. AsLe Conte and Horn have said: As the function of theCerarabycidse is to hold the vegetable world in check bydestroying woody fibre, the Brnchidiu (weevils) effect asimilar result by attacking the seeds, and the Chrysome-lidte by destroying the leaves.- The list of beetles directly or indirectly useful to manis small. The carrion-beetles, tumble-bugs, and rove-beetles, which feed upon decaying animal and vegetablematter, are useful as scavengers. Of those which serve usby killing other ins

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