98 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



one fifth of an inch in length. These beetles may be found on the 

 leaves of the apple-tree, and very abundantly on those of the shad- 

 bush (Amelanchier ova/is), and choke-berry (Pyrus arbutifolia) , 

 during the latter part of May and the beginning of June. 



The grubs of another species may be found in the leaves of the 

 locust-tree in July. Tha beetles appear in August. They 

 measure nearly one quarter of an inch in length, are of a tawny 

 yellow color, with a black longitudinal line on the middle of the 

 back, partly on one and partly on the other wing-cover, the inner 

 edges of which meet together and form what is called the suture ; 

 whence this species was named Hhpa suturalis by Fabricius ; 

 the head, antennae, body beneath, and legs are black ; and the 

 wing-covers are not so square behind as in the rosy Hispa. 



The tortoise-beetles, as they are familiarly called from their 

 shape, are leaf-eating insects, belonging to the family Cassidad^e. 

 This name, derived from a word signifying a helmet, is applied to 

 them because the forepart of the semicircular thorax generally 

 projects over the head like the front of a helmet. In these beetles 

 the body is broad oval or rounded, flat beneath, and slightly con- 

 vex above. The antennas are short, slightly thickened at the 

 end, and inserted close together on the crown of the head. The 

 latter is small, and concealed under, or deeply sunk into, the 

 thorax. The legs are very short, and hardly seen from above. 

 These insects are often gayly colored or spotted, which increases 

 their resemblance to a tortoise ; they creep slowly, and fly by 

 day. Their larvae and pupae resemble those of the following spe- 

 cies in most respects. 



Cassida aurichalcea, so named by Fabricius on account of the 

 brilliant brassy or golden lustre it assumes, is found during most 

 of the summer months on the leaves of the bitter-sweet (Solamtm 

 dulcamara), and in great abundance on various kinds of Convol- 

 vulus, such as our large flowered Convolvulus septum, the morning 

 glory, and the sweet potato-vine. The leaves of these plants are 

 eaten both by the beetles and their young. The former begin to 

 appear during the months of May and June, having probably sur- 

 vived the winter in some place of shelter and concealment, and 

 their larvae in a week or two afterwards. The larvae are broad 

 oval, flattened, dark-colored grubs, with a kind of fringe, com- 



