LE\F- BEETLES. 



153 



the burned region about Hinckley, where the "fire cherry,'* 

 {Primus Pennsylvania), has taken full possession of the ground. 

 It may be simply a question of time before it attacks the culti- 

 vated trees in our orchards as well. 



The beetle is a small insect, measuring less than a quarter 

 of an inch in length, and is of a bright red color, with feelers, 

 eyes, and exterior portions of the legs black. It is densely cov- 

 ered with a coarse punctuation, the punctures being separated by 

 distinct intervals ; the surface is shiny. Such beetles are most 

 abundant during June or early July, and again in September ; 

 those appearing in June seem to represent the hibernated genera- 

 tion, those appearing later are their progeny. As such beetles 

 have been repeatedly found along the edges of woods early in 

 April, there can be no doubt that they hibernate as perfect in- 

 sects. 



Fig. 157. — Galeruca xanthomeltena, Halm.— After Division of Entomology, U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture. 



