106 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



beetles from touching them. Perhaps a decoction of walnut-leaves 

 might be equally serviceable. Great numbers of the beetles may 

 be caught by the skilful use of a deep bag-net of muslin, which 

 should be swept over the plants infested by the beetles, after 

 which the latter may be easily destroyed. This net cannot be 

 used with safety to catch the insects on very young plants, on 

 account of the risk of bruising or breaking their tender leaves. 



The Chrysomelians, Chrysomelad2E, properly so called, form 

 the third family of the tribe to which I have given the same name, 

 because these insects hold the chief place in it, in respect to size, 

 beauty, variety, and numbers. These leaf-beetles are mostly 

 broad oval, sometimes nearly hemispherical, in their form, or 

 very convex above and flat beneath. The head is rather wide, 

 and not concealed under the thorax. The latter is short, and 

 broad behind. The antennae are about half the length of the 

 body, and slightly thickened towards the end, and arise from the 

 sides of the head, between the eyes and the corners of the mouth ; 

 being much further apart than those of the Galerucians and flea- 

 beetles. The legs are rather short, nearly equal in length, and the 

 hindmost thighs are not thicker than the others, and are not fitted 

 for leaping. The colors of these beetles are often rich and bril- 

 liant, among which blue and green, highly polished, and with a 

 golden or metallic lustre, are the most common tints. The larvae 

 are soft-bodied, short, thick, and slug-shaped grubs, with six legs 

 before, and a prop-leg behind. They live exposed on the leaves of 

 plants, which they eat, and to which most of them fasten them- 

 selves by the tail, when about to be transformed. Some, how- 

 ever, go into the ground when about to change to pupa?. Many 

 of these insects, both in the larva and beetle state, have been 

 found to be very injurious to vegetation in other countries ; but I 

 am not aware that any of them have proved seriously injurious to 

 cultivated or other valuable plants in this country. There are 

 some, it is true, which may hereafter increase so as to give us 

 much trouble, unless effectual means are taken to protect and 

 cherish their natural enemies, the birds. 



The largest species in New England inhabits the common milk- 

 weed, or silk-weed (Jlsclepias Syriaca), upon which it may be 

 found, in some or all of its states, from the middle of June till 



