The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-08-27
MEXICAN CARABID BEETLE.


where sugar cane and coffee thriyes so
well. The carabid feeds mainly on the
larvae that develops chiefly under
ground. Professor Koebele also found
pupae of Chilochorus cacti and some
aspidiatus or Mytelaipis; the latter is
found in the hottest part of the coun-
try. and is considered the most valua-
BILE lady bird so far met with in Mex
leo, as it feeds on any scale. He con-
siders this invaluable to the Hawaiian
Islands for this reason.
At the end of June Professor KOebe-
lie visited Taluca, locality 5000 feet
above the sea, and found myriads OF
small June bugs flying about. He no
ticed a large carabid hunting and de-
vouring them. Four of the specimens
gathered at that time were sent Mr..
Jaeger Afterwards Professor Rochelle
spent four days, until late in the even
ing, in the hills with view to observ-
ing the habits of the insects, but failed
10 nQu any Vi Tic SIldll UCCIlCo, ~
abundant in June. Nor did he find one
of the large carabids in his usual posi-
ton, when hunting, on his hind legs
and with jaws open, ready to devour
the bugs. The beetles work now was
to be performed under the ground
among the ramifications of tunnels of
various lengths, generally ending sew
eral inches down. There they hunt for
the larvae of the Scarbreid beetles,
which are so very numerous.
The result of Professor Koebele's
search is shown by Commissioners
Marsden in a glass, a number of them
having reached here alive and in fine
condition. In packing the beetles in
boxes he included dozens of larvae of
an agrotus which is abundant here, but
when he examined the boxes and their
contents the next day he found not
trace left, in some instances only the
noctua larvae remained.
Professor Koebele writes that it is
a most difficult task to secure beetles
whose habits are largely subterranean.
He feels certain that the newly-found
enemy will be deadly to the Japanese
beetle. once it is coloniZed here. He
believes it will feed chiefly, if not en-
tirely, unon the larvae and beetles of
the Japanese pest of the Islands.
Included among the lot which reach
ed Commissioner Marsden were num-
Der each of two species of Coloroma,
very active insects and well able to take
care Of themselves. The Professor
came upon these specimens under
dense masses of Ipomoca on the
ground. on which live various species
of larvae. which they devour; in fact,
they eat anything in the insect line,
from the smallest to the largest of
June bugs of no matter what size they
may be- Cut-worm larvae is their ia
yorite food. Il have given these Speci-
mems hundreds of such larvae in the
field and could see nothing remaining
after two days. 1t would be impossi-
bic to provide them with sufficient for
them to feed on until they reached San
Francisco writes the Professor.
The species sent here are good fly
ers and will hunt their food at night.
Professor Koebele wrote that he hoped
he would not be recalled from his Ia
bors in Mexico, as it was the height
of the season, and he felt able to find
plenty of other enemies Of the Japan
csc beetles and cut-worms, so plentiful
in the Islands.
Since the arrival of the specimens,
Commissioner Marsden has tried them
on Japanese beetles and found them
ravenous in their appetities for that in
sect. Forty beetles put in box with
a few of the carabids from Mexico
were devoured during the night AS
fast as they are received they will be
fed upon the beetles and then distrib-
uted.