Bulletin 130


alone that small patches of velvet beans planted near woods
usually escape with little injury.
 Lizards, especially the "chameleon" (Anolis), feed eagerly
upon the caterpillar. The Anolis is commonly seen climbing
over the vines in velvet bean fields. They doubtless consume
a great number of the caterpillars.
 Polecats or skunks are frequently found in the velvet bean
fields and probably feed on the caterpillars and pupae, since they
are fond of insects. They are among the most useful of wild
animals in this respect.
 Wasps of certain species carry off many caterpillars with
which to stock nests for their grubs.
 Perhaps the most important insect enemies of the caterpillars
are certain species of predaceous bugs (Figs. 15 and 16). These
 bugs are abundant in
 \ / velvet bean fields, and \
 \ / are commonly seen
 with caterpillars im-
 paled on their beaks,
 or slowly and stealth-
 ily stalking their prey.
 Since they attack most-
 ly the smaller caterpil-
 lars they do a great Fig. 16. Euthrynchus
 deal of good, as they floridensis.
 doubtless consume
 Fig. 15. A predaceous many in a day. Morever, by destroying
 bug (Mutica grandis). the young caterpillars the bugs save more
velvet bean leaves than they would if they took the older
caterpillars which have already done most of their damage.
 A small bluish carabid beetle (Callida decora) (Fig. 17) is
active in destroying eggs and young caterpillars.
It is frequently seen running actively over the I
vines.
 A number of predaceous enemies also prey
upon the pupae in the ground. Common among
these are moles and large carabid beetles Say's \
Hunter. (Fig. 18.) The former is seldom seen,
but its tunnels are everywhere under the vines.
The latter is nocturnal and is found during the Fig.17. The lit-
day under the dead leaves. It, too, is seldom tie blue hun-
seen, altho it is common and highly bene- ter (Callida de-
ficial. cora).