262 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



cultivated crops. The larval habits of the family are not sa 

 fully understood, still it is fairly certain that the larvae are 

 more restricted as to food plants than the adults. 



Considered with regard to their habits of feeding, the larvae 

 may be roughly divided into three groups, viz., external leaf- 

 feeders, internal leaf-feeders called leaf-miners, and root- 

 feeders. The larvse of the last group, including among others 

 a considerable proportion of the Eumolpini, are, from their 

 subterranean nature, less known than the others. A few forms 

 do not fall within these groups, e. g., the genus Donacia, 

 which lives in the larva state in the stems of aquatic plants. 



In the preparation of this paper from my original notes 

 collecting notes for the most part I have omitted mention of 

 all doubtful cases, and although the species mentioned herein 

 have not in every instance been observed actually feeding on 

 the plants on which they were found, their occurrence was in 

 such numbers and under such circumstances as to leave little 

 room for doubt as to their habits. Therefore, I feel confident 

 that all plants mentioned in this article are bonafide food plants, 

 at least of the adult beetles, of the species occurring upon them. 



The observations which follow, where not otherwise speci 

 fied, were made in central New York on the dates recorded. 



Orsodachna atra Ahr. , although well known as infesting 

 willow, has not been included in the list of willow insects in 

 Packard's Report on Forest and Shade Insects, and so far as I 

 can learn no record of its food habits has ever been published.* 

 It is one of our earliest insects in the Northern States, occurring 

 in April, when the willow is in bloom. I have not taken 

 specimens later than May. When variations in color, size and 

 form are all taken into consideration this is certainly one of the 

 most variable species of all our native Coleoptera. It is, more 

 over, a singular fact that such remarkable variations as are 

 manifested in this one species are not due to climatic or similar 

 conditions since all, or nearly all forms may be taken upon a 

 single tree, and in all probability all may occur in a single brood. 

 In material that I have had an opportunity to examine no new 

 forms appear, whether from the South or from the Atlantic or 

 Pacific States. 



Anonuza latidavia Forst. I have found this species swarm 

 ing on two species of bush-clover {Lespedeza spp.) after the 

 manner of the familiar Chrysochus auratus on the dog-bane. 

 They were devouring the leaves, many specimens being in 

 coitu. I have also observed these beetles eating the leaves of 



* Since the above notes were presented for publication Miss M. E. 

 Murtfeldt has recorded the occurrence of this insect in Missouri on 

 peach, the blossoms of which it was injuring. (Bull. No. 26, Division of 

 Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, p. 38). 



