Teachers' Leaflet. 461 



are not fitted for rapid running because they are short rather than long ; 

 they are simply adapted for crawling. Incidentally call attention to the 

 fact that there arc three parts to the body of the potato beetle, like the 

 grasshopper's, and that die part behind the head (thorax j bears the legs 

 and wings. Note the ornamental markings on the shield that covers the 

 thorax; count the stripes on the wing covers. This beetle is called 

 decemlincata, which means ten striped. Are there ten yellow stripes or 

 ten black ones and how are they placed? When the beetle is attacked 

 it escapes by flight. Note when flying how it holds its striped wing 

 covers rigid, while the work of flying is done by the thin wings ordinarily 

 hidden by the wing covers. When the beetle alights note that it folds its 

 wings crosswise and tucks them under the wing covers, just opposite to 

 the way the wings of the grasshopper are folded. 



LESSON XVIIL 



THE YOUXG OF THE POTATO BEETLE. 



Purpose. — To teach the form and habits of the earlier stages. 



Material. — A potato plant brought into the schoolroom and placed 

 in a pot. Up to the time of frost the eggs and larvae may be found in 

 neglected potato patches, usually upon some of the self-planted vines, 

 which still have green leaves. 



Observations on the eggs. — Their color; their size; are they placed 

 in groups ? Are they placed on the upper or under side of the leaves ? 



Observations on the larvcE. — When it is first hatched it is pale yellow- 

 in color and grows like other insects by shedding its skeleton skin ; and 

 when it is fully grown it is bright orange in color and spotted. After it 

 is fully grown it goes down and digs into the earth and changes to a 

 pupa ; note how long it takes for the larva to grow from the &gg to the 

 pupa and how long it stays in the ground before it changes to an 

 adult beetle. 



LESSON XIX. 



WARXIXG COLORS. 



Purpose. — To make the child acquainted with the fact that bright 

 colors m.ay be useful to those insects that are distasteful to birds. 



Get the pupils to observe the enemies of the potato beetle ; they will 

 fi.nd that the potato beetle larv?e are not eaten by chickens to any extent, 

 nor will any other birds, except perhaps the omnivorous turkey and the 

 beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak, the partridge and quail feed upon it 

 {Farmers' Bulletin No. 54, U. S. Department of Agriculture, " Some 



