258 



INJURIOUS AND BKNEFICIAU TNSECTS OF OAIJFORNIA. 



middle of May and the adults of the first generation issue the last of 

 May and the first of June. 



Nature of Work.— The larva- and adults eat holes in and around 

 the edges of the leaves. 



Distribution.— In the southern part of the State this beetle is quite 

 common. 



Food Plants. — The larvag and adults were observed by D. W. 

 Coquillett to be feeding upon nightshade (Solaniim xantU). 192 They 

 are likely to be found upon solanaceous plants in the gardens. 



Control. — Control measures are not likely to become necessary. 

 They would be the same as for the golden tortoise-beetle. 



THE GOLDEN TORTOISE-BEETLE 



Coptoeycla bicolor Fabricius 

 (Cassida aurichalcea Fabricius) 



(Fig. 250) . 



Description.— The beetles are known as "gold-bugs" and appear 

 as drops of burnished gold, but do not have the metallic luster just 

 alter pupation or when they are dead. The color in either of these 



cases is a uniform golden-yellow. 

 There are three small black spots 

 on each wing cover, which are 

 prominent at first, but soon become 

 very inconspicuous when the golden 

 luster appears. The eggs are irreg- 

 ular in form, flat and narrower at 

 one end, 1-25 inch long, of a dirty 

 white color and are usually fur- 

 nished with three spine-like projec- 

 tions from the posterior margin. 

 The spines, however, may be en- 

 tirely wanting. The larva or 

 "peddler" is dark brown with pale 

 ™„ 0( . n „, ,, . c , . , .. dorsum. It carries the anal or 



Fig. 250. — The golden tortoise-beetle, „.»,-,.,, ., , , 



Coptoeycla bicolor (Fab.), a, larvte on ia?ci-iork directly over the back, 



leaf, natural size; b, larva; c, pupa; d, ^^h i„ ] na A*A with pverpmpnt 

 adult; e, egg. b, c and d enlarged three WUlcn IS loaaeu Wltn excrement, 



times ; e, enlarged about ten times. (After nearly concealinsr the body. The 



Riley) « 



arrangement of the excrement in a 

 tri-lobed pattern easily distinguishes the larvae of this species from the 

 others. The pupa is brown with three dark stripes on the prothorax 

 and similar dark markings on the abdomen. In this stage the anal 

 Cork, with ifs load of excrement, is held close to the back. 



Life History. — The eggs are laid singly upon the food plants in 

 I he spring by the over-wintering adults, and the larvae are usually 

 round singly and but few upon a plant. Pupation takes place where 

 the larva has ceased feeding. There are probably several generations 

 a year. 



Distribution. — This species, though not abundant, is distributed 

 throughout the State, being more common in the southern part. 



" ; -lnsr,l Life IV, p. 202, L891. 



