TORTOISE BEETLES. 



with the faeci-fork half as long again, slightly convex, 

 dirty yellowish, with numerous dark-brown tubercles and 

 prominent lateral spines. The yellowish to black ground- 

 color of the pupa is almost concealed by a bluish bloom or 

 waxy excretion resembling mold. On milkweeds, Con- 

 volvulus, and, sometimes, raspberries. 



In the following, the pronotum is rounded in front, 

 covering the head; its side-margins are flattened (not 

 thickened as in Physonota). The antennae of Cassida 

 do not reach beyond the base of the pronotum; those of 

 Coptocycla extend beyond it. The names given are those 

 in general use, as yet. Students interested in possible 

 changes are referred to Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, vol. 

 xviii., page 113. 



C. nignpes is dull red or yellow after 

 Cassida / 



death; each elytron with three obscure 



black dots near the middle; base of antennae, part of tibiae, 

 and tarsi, reddish, rest of legs and antennae black. The 

 eggs are laid in rows of three or more, so that several of the 

 bright, straw-yellow larvae, having two crescentic, black 

 marks just back of the head and prominent, black-tipped 

 spines, will be found together. The mass of excrement 

 is usually much branched. The pronotum of C. bivittata 

 is yellowish, with a large, triangular, brownish-red space 

 at the base; elytra dull yellow, with the suture and two 

 stripes on each black or dark brown ; under surface and legs 

 black. Eggs are usually laid singly. The cream-colored, 

 with a longitudinal band along the back, larva (Plate 

 LXXXIII) does not carry excrement but merely cast skins 

 and holds them at an angle from the body, instead of close 

 over the back. 



C. pnrpurata is usually not common in 

 the North. It is less than .25 in. long, with 

 unspotted, brownish-red elytra. Coptocycla bicolor (Plate 

 LXXXIII) is common on bindweed. It is one of several 

 "Gold-bugs." Harris said: "When living it has the 

 power of changing its hues, at one time appearing only of a 

 dull yellow color, and at other times shining with the 

 splendor of polished brass or gold, tinged sometimes also 



377 



