COLEOPTERA. 



63 



The ? lays her yellowish-white eggs in clusters of 10 to 12, in all 

 100 to 150, on the under side of the leaves of young poplars. The 

 larvae emerge in June or July, feed openly on the leaves, and if 

 disturbed exude a milky-white fluid, with an odour of bitter almonds. 



Pupation takes place in July and August ; the pup£e hang reversed 

 from the leaves by their pointed end. 



The beetles emerge by the end of August, and after October 

 hibernate under leaves or moss, reappearing in the open in April. 



Generation annual, but frequently double, when the beetles hiber- 



Fig. 60.— Melasoma populi. 



a, beetle ; b, larva ; c, pupa. 

 (From ' Forest Protection,' 

 by W. R. Fisher.) 



d' 





L \ 



/ 



Fifj bl — ln\v.i Its d( lu by Mtlasouia populi 

 le if bitten by beetle , b, leaf bitten by larv »- (Fiom 

 'Foiest Piotection, by W. R Fishei ) 



nate ; larvae appear in May and June ; pup;3e 3-4 weeks later, new 

 beetles 10 days later. Fresh larvae in August, the second generation 

 closing in the middle of September. Locally common in many parts 

 of the British Isles, chiefly in South England. 



Relations to the forest. — The insect, both in the larval and beetle 

 stages (fig. 60), attacks young poplars and sometimes aspen shoots. 

 Occasionally they are found in osier-beds, especially on Salix £mr- 

 purea, L., and S. ruhra, L., &c. The larvae attack the leaves, which 

 are completely skeletonised, the parenchyma being eaten and the veins 

 left intact. The imago eats holes out of the leaves (fig. 61). 



The attacks last from June to AuLrust. 



