LEAF-BEETLES. 141 



There is still another beetle closely allied to the two species 

 of Fidia just described. It is reddish-brown, a little smaller, 

 more robust and is sometimes very common upon the foliage of 

 the wild grapes. It is Adoxus obscurus Linn. Last year, late 

 in July, it became very numerous upon some cultivated grapes, 

 but could be readily gathered into an inverted umbrella. The 

 beetles are very active and difficult to find when on the ground, 

 the color of their bodies blending well with the surrounding par- 

 ticles of soil and refuse material. 



One of the larger, and by far the most beautiful of all of our 

 leaf-beetles is an insect very commonly found upon the two 

 species of dog-bane growing in our state. Their form is charac- 

 teristic of that of the following species, being" elongated-oval. 

 The beetle is entirely of a burnished metallic green color, with a 

 darker bluish-green thorax. Various other tints, such as gold, 

 brass, copper, appear if the insect is viewed in certain lights. Its 

 name is a well selected one, being Chrysochus auratus Fab. It is 

 frequently collected in large numbers by young people who ar- 

 range a number of butterflies in large glass cases in various pat- 

 terns, as for instance in that of a flying eagle, and these brilliant 

 beetles are frequently used to form the outlines of the picture. 



THE STRAWBERRY ROOT-WORMS. 



(Paria canella Fab. & others). 



These very common beetles vary greatly in coloration and 

 markings, and a number of varieties have been described. All 

 are small, being about three-tenths of an inch long, polished, pale 

 yellowish-brown, or darker, almost black, with two, four, or six 

 black dots or spots upon the wing-covers. These spots are some- 

 times confluent, forming two longitudinal bands, or the black- 

 color may even cover the entire disk of the elytra; the under side 

 is black. These stout beetles are very active in all their motions, 

 moving about briskly when disturbed. They hibernate as beetles, 

 and are very commonly found under rubbish along the edges of 

 forests. From these places they frequently invade strawberry 



