more or less lii^uhly coloi-cd. Soiiu- of lliciii ;ii-(' llnttt'iicd ;iti(l <Miri- 

 ously nniu'd witli spines, while otliei-s .-in' partially eovei'cd with 

 theii' own excrement. A few ai'(( leaT uiiiUM's or stem borers, and 

 these are h)iii;' and slendc^r and without tlie eouspieuons markings of 

 those which feed in the open. The larvte of •)ne lar^c <.!;r()up {(Uvtip- 

 toso)na) are ease-beiu'ers ; others, inclndini^' an entii'e tribe {Kuiiiol- 

 pini) aro root-feeders. When ready to transform, many of the leaf- 

 eating larva? fasten themselves by the tail or last abdominal segment 

 to a leaf and entei' tlie chrysalis statre, while others go into the 

 gi'ound when about to change to a pupa. The case-bearers pni)ate 

 within the sealed-up larval case. 



About 18,000 species of Chrysomelidjp are known, 750 of which 

 are from North America. These are arranged in twelve tribes, all of 

 which are represented in Indiana. The literature pertaining to the 

 different tribes is widely scattered, and the more important papers 

 will be noted under the respective tribal headings. Two which at- 

 tempt to treat of the United States or Canadian species of the fam- 

 ily as a whole are as follows: 



Cvolch, G. 7?.— "Materials for the Study of the Phytophaga of 

 the United States," in Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1873, 

 19-83. 



^Vic'khaw, U. F. — "The Chrysomelida^ of Ontario and Quebec," 

 in Can. Ent., XXVIII. 1896; XXIX, 1897. 



The diiferent forms of tarsal claws are much used in the classifi- 

 cation of genera, and the beginner is lu'ged to familiarize himself 

 with these as described on page 18. 



KEY TO TRIBES OF CHRYSOMELID.E. 



a. Head prodnced. constricted or neck-lilve behind the eyes; thorax much 



narrower than elytra and without lateral margins (raised edges) ; 



mandibles simple, pointed (Eupoda). 



h. First ventral segiuent about as long as all the others united; form 



elongate; presternum very narrow; tarsal claws simple, divergent. 



Tribe I. Donaciixi. p. loOS. 

 i'ji'j. First ventral about as long as or somewhat shorter than the two fol- 

 lowing. 

 c. Elytral punctures irregular; tarsal claws cleft or toothed; pro- 

 sternum distinct. Tribe 11. Sagbini, p. 11<»T. 

 cc. Elytral punctures in rows; tarsal claws simple, divergent; pro- 

 sternum very narrow. Tribe III. Criocertnt. p. 1110. 

 (to. Head inserted in the thorax to the e.ves; thorax as broad, or but little 

 narrower, than elytra, usually margined on the sides; mandibles with 

 several teeth. ' ] 

 '/. Thorax and elytra without broad, expanded margins; head usually 

 plainly visible from above. 



