BEETLES. 



365 



^' 





berry and raspberry stalks, until they reach full growth, when they pupate in the pith. 

 Their presence in stems of the plants can be readily detected by the gall-like swelling 

 that they produce. On account of the spiral course of the burrows of 

 the larvae, the part of the stalk above these galls generally dies. The 

 best mode of destroying these insects is to burn, during early spring, the 

 stalks which have galls upon them. 



The species of Acmceodera are not as elongate as those of Agrilus^ 

 and their scutellum is indistinct. Acmceodera culta, a black species 

 with yellow spots on the elytra, and only 0.25 of an inch long, is common 

 in eastern North America, on the flowers of star-grass (Hypoxys erecta). FIG. W Acmce- 

 A. gibbula is a western form. 



A large number of species of medium-sized Buprestidse which are of a dark green, 

 coppery, or black-shining bronze color, and are covered with impressed dull spots, are 

 grouped in the genus Chrysobothris. Of these species C. femorata, a greenish-black 

 species that varies from 0.4 to 0.6 of an inch in length, and two-thirds 

 as wide, besides being, as larva, injurious to oaks and other forest trees, 

 damages peach and pear trees, and often causes serious fatality to apple 

 trees. These beetles are found from May until the end of summer. 

 Their pale yellow, thin-shelled, ribbed eggs are laid, singly or a few, in 

 groups, in crevices of bark. The young larvae, upon hatching, bore into 

 the bark and live beneath it, in flattened channels, soon girdling small trees. Later, 

 as it's jaws become stronger, it attacks the solid wood, but always again comes to the 

 surface before pupation. After cutting a passage almost through the bark it retreats, 

 packs its debris and excrement about it, and pupates. Upon emergence, the beetle, 

 which has feebler jaws than its larva, has no difficulty in reaching the open air. C. 

 harrisii, one of the smallest beetles of this genus, being only about 0.3 of an inch long, 

 is a somewhat rare but brilliant species. Its larva lives in pine twigs, and the brilliant 

 metallic-green beetle may be found, during June and July in New r England, sparkling 

 in the hot sunlight on the tips of white-pine boughs ; on account of its 

 shyness and rapid flight it is not easily captured. 



Similar in form to Chrysobothris, but having a broader front, is 

 Melanophila. M. fulvoguttata, of a brassy black color from 0.30 to 0.45 

 of an inch long, has three yellow dots upon each elytron. This species 



J J FIG. 421. Melan- 



frequents pines throughout the northern United States. 



In Buprestis, a genus numbering, as at present limited, over fifty 



species, many of which are beautifully colored, the beetles are rather larger than in the 



preceding genera. B. rufipes is a North American species, of which the earlier stages 

 are unknown. B. fasciata is one of the most brilliant species of this 

 genus. It is from 0.60 to 0.75 of an inch long, of a brilliant metallic- 

 green with golden reflections, with a small* yellow spot near the tip of 

 each elytron, and a band of yellow nearly across each elytron just in 

 front of the apical spot. The larva probably feeds in willow or pine 

 wood, and it inhabits the northern United States. 

 I Dicerca divaricata, which is of a coppery-bronze color and about 



FIG. 422. Bupres- 0.75 of an inch long, is easily recognized by the prolonged and divergent 



tis ruApes. ? . . 



tips ot its elytra ; it is common in the eastern United States. Its larva 

 attacks peach, maple, cherry, and beech trees. 



The species of Chalcophora resemble, in form and mode of indentation of the 



ophlln fulvo- 

 guttata. 



