FAMILY GAI-ERUCIDjE. 135 



(EdIONYCIU'S TIIORAC'ICA. 



Color of thf clylm blue imrplish, iiiimaciihilr : thorax luteous, ni.nkid wiili ciglit black 

 dots ; outer niarsjin lutcoiis. 'I lir <>iilti- lialfCl' tlic tarsal joints ami aiitcniiii' lutfcus ; 

 the rest puri>lisli. 



Halt if ides. 



Uk.nls HAI.TK a. 



'Form ubiung-iivalc : tiiorax iiarruwer lliaii tlii' clvlia; iioslorior lar.-i shmt ' ( Wkst- 

 wood). 

 This gi'irns cninjirisos many species, all of which arc sniai), and wlnise posterior legs are 

 formed li>r leaping. They feed iijxm the leaves of vegetabks, more especially upon the 

 cruciform plants, as mustard, radish and turnip ; the latter of which often suffers exceed- 

 ingly, in consequence of the insects eating the jiiing and succulent leaves, perforating 

 th-m like a sieve. Their olors are often brilliant. 



IIaltica chalybe.\. 

 Body oblong oval : thorax marked with a transverse furrow. Color steel-blue, but variable 

 and passing into greenish blue : underside green ; antenna? and feet black. Length 

 from one-sixth to one-fifth of an inch. 



David Thomas, of Cayuga county, has given in Silliman's Journal an acci nut of this 

 species of Haltica. This excellent oljscrver noticed that his vine leaves were infested with 

 a small smooth chestnut-colored larva ; and on feeding them in a tumbler jartly filled 

 with earth, they came to maturity and buried themselves, and in two weeks afterwards 

 came out the perfect in.-ect, after having undergone their transformation. The larva feeds 

 upon the tender fruit buds while in a growing state, and hence destroys the fruit for the 

 season. The use of a solution of whale-oil soap would undoubtedly protect the vine, and 

 drive away the insects. 



The cucumber is infested with another .species of Haltica, whicli has received the name 

 of H. cucumcris from Dr. Harris. It is black, one-sixteenth of an inch long, with clay 

 yellow antcniuT and legs, txcept the hindmost, which is brown : the thorax is marked by 

 a deep transverse furrow ( Harris). 



Another is the wavy striped beetle, Haltica slrioluta, and feeds upon the horse-radish, 

 mustard and turnip; in which respect it resembles the European species, which fteds 

 upon and destroys the turnip crop. 



