BUPRESTID-BEETLES. 



51 



Most of the larvae of these borers live inside the wood of trees, 

 more especially beneath the bark ; others are gall-makers, or even 

 leaf-miners. Their larvae are very peculiar beings, being charac- 

 terized by an enormous expansion of the first thoracic joint, from 

 which the two posterior joints taper abruptly to the slender and 

 cylindrical abdomen. In other cases all three thoracic joints are 

 more or less expanded, though in some cases they are also nor- 

 mal. On account of this flattened appearance such larvae are fre- 

 quently called "flat-headed borers," a name very expressive, 

 though by no means correct, as the head itself is not flattened, but 

 appears as a small appendage upon the anterior edge of the flat- 

 tened joint or joints. Sometimes they are also called "tad-poles," 

 for self-evident reasons. The larvae of typical Buprestidac pos- 

 sess no legs ; but, those of the mining species have cylindrical 

 bodies with three pairs of legs. The adult forms of these latter 

 are also much shorter than is usual in this family. "Flat-headed 

 Borers," sometimes named "Hammer-heads," infest not only 

 trees, shrubs and vines, but sometimes even herbaceous plants. 

 Some prefer dying wood, others attack apparently healthy and 

 vigorous plants. The pupa is formed inside the burrow or mine 

 made by the larvae, and is of the usual form. 



Some of the worst pests of fruit-producing plants belong to 

 this family of insects, and the more important will be described 

 and illustrated. 



Fi7. 61. — Chalcophora species. After Brehm 



