Usually elongated, slender; with long slender legs, five-jointed tarsi, eleven-jointed antennæ, powerful jaws (Figs. 68, 69). Run rapidly; usually keep on the ground; hide themselves during the day, but are very active at night; with very few exceptions feed entirely on other insects; when touched squirt an acrid stinking fluid out of the abdomen. Larvæ longish, six-legged, with short antennæ and sharp jaws, with a few exceptions live exclusively on other insects and lower animals. Several species are of service, both in the adult and larval conditions, since they destroy injurious insects, _e.g._ surface caterpillars, wireworms, cockchafers, grubs, crane-fly larvæ. The following do good in cultivated fields: =Golden Ground Beetle= (_Carabus auratus_), =Garden Ground Beetle= (_C. hortensis_), =Granulated Ground Beetle= (_C. granulatus_), =Cross-barred Ground Beetle= (_C. cancellatus_), =Field Ground Beetle= (_C. nemoralis_), =Large-headed Ground Beetle= (_Cephalotes vulgaris_), species of _Harpalus_, _Pterostichus_, etc. [Illustration: FIG. 68.—A Ground Beetle (_Carabus auronitens_). ] [Illustration: FIG. 69.—Corn Ground Beetle (_Zabrus gibbus_) and larva. ] The only destructive form is the =Corn Ground Beetle= (_Zabrus gibbus_, Fig. 69); short, thick-set; back black; belly, legs, and antennæ dark brown. Larva cylindrical, slightly hairy, brown, with yellowish white belly; head broad and flattened, black. The beetles (June, July) usually remain hidden in the soil during the day, climbing up the stalks of barley, wheat, and rye during the evening and in dull weather, and eating the grain in the ear. The larvæ remain during the day in vertical holes which they dig out; but at night and during dull weather they devour the overground parts of the grain-plants mentioned above, especially the hearts of young plants. They are destructive both in autumn and spring, damaging winter and summer grain. The larval condition is maintained for three years, the animal then turning into a pupa during July. Its ravages are limited to special years. _Remedy_: Sowing oats, peas, or vetches, or planting potatoes in fields infested by the beetles or their larvæ; collecting the beetles in the evening when they are in the ears. Family: =Staphylinidæ= (_Rove Beetles_). [Illustration: FIG. 70.—Rove Beetle (_Staphylinus erythropterus_). ] [Illustration: FIG. 71.—The Black Burying Beetle (_Silpha atrata_) and larva. ]