118G 



FA M 1 1 .^' I -111. CriRYSOMET JD/K. 



LII. DisoNYCiTA Chev. 1834. ( G r. , " two + claw. ' ' ) 

 Oblong- or oval l)eetles oi* medium size, having the head inserted 

 as far as the eyes, front with distinct carina and two tubercles; 



antennie slender, rarely 

 longer than half the 

 l)ody, the fourth joint 

 longer than third, ex- 

 cept in the species with 

 lilue elytra, where the 

 two j o i n t s are equal ; 

 thorax as wdde at base as 

 elytra , narrowed in 

 front, sides obliquely 

 sinuate, disk convex 

 without transverse basal 

 depression; elytra ob- 

 long or oval, the epi- 

 pleura3 gradually nar- 

 rower from base; front 

 coxal cavities open be- 

 hind ; hind thighs much 

 enlarged, grooved be- 

 neath ; tibias more or less 

 bisulcate on outer face, 

 ter}ninated by a moder- 



Fig. 521. DisonychaUiingularisjSjiy. X 10. (After Forbes.; , s'ate Spur ; firSt joiut of 



hind tarsi as long as the next two ; claws dilated at base. The males 

 have the last ventral segment truncate, the pygidium vertical and 

 convex; in the females the last ventral is oval and the pygidium 

 horizontal. 



The species feed upon herl)S of various kinds and often do much 

 damage to sugar l)eets and allied plants. They feign death when 

 disturbed, falling to the ground, wiiere they remain quiet for sev- 

 eral minutes. Of the 18 species ascril)ed to t]i(» g(^nus l\v Horn, 

 eleven havc^ been taken in the State. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF DISONYCITA. 



(/. Form oldiifjate. iiarallel ; elytra yellow \vith black stripes, snbsnlcate on 

 tilt* sides: thorax willi an irrc.milai- inipvossinn oaeh side. 



2101. PENNSYLVANICA. 



(III. Form more or h^ss oval; elytra not snbsnlcate; thorax resnlarly con- 

 vex. 

 h. Elyti-.i with black and yellow stri|)es. or yellow with only a narrow 

 sntnral and snbmari^inal black line. 



