124 COLEOPTERA. 



numbers on the leaves of plants, committing ravages, at these 

 times, as extensive as those of the most destructive caterpil- 

 lars. This was the case in 1837 at Sevres, in France, and 

 in 1838 and 1839 in Baltimore and its vicinity, where the 

 elm-trees were entirely stripped of their leaves during mid- 

 summer by swarms of the larvge of Galeruca Calmarienm ; 

 and, in the latter place, after the trees had begun to revive, 

 and were clothed with fresh leaves, they were again attacked 

 by new broods of these noxious grubs. These insects, which 

 Avere undoubtedly introduced into America with the Euro- 

 pean elm, are as yet unknown in the New England States. 

 The eggs of the Galerucians are generally laid in little 

 clusters or rows along the veins of the leaves, and those of 

 the elm Galeruca are of a yellow color. The pupa state of 

 some species occurs on the leaves, of others in the ground ; 

 and some of the larvae live also in the ground on the roots 

 of plants. 



One of the most common kinds is the Graleruca vittata* or 

 striped Galeruca, (Plate II. Fig. 3,) generally known here 

 by the names of striped bug, and cucumber-beetle. This ^ 

 destructive insect is of a light-yellow color above, with a 

 black head, and a broad black stripe on each wing-cover, the 

 inner edge or suture of which is also black, forming a third 

 narrower stripe down the middle of the back ; the abdomen, 

 the greater part of the fore legs, and the knees and feet of 

 the other legs, are black. It is rather less than one fifth of 

 an inch long. Early in the spring it devours the tender 

 leaves of various plants. I have found it often on those of 

 our Aronias, Amelanchier hotryapium and ovalis, and Pi/rus 

 arbutifolia, towards the end of April. It makes its first 

 appearance, on cucumber, squash, and melon vines, about 

 the last of May and first of June, or as soon as the leaves 

 begin to expand ; and, as several broods are produced in the 

 course of the summer, it may be found at various times on 

 these plants, till the latter are destroyed by fi-ost. Great 



* Crioceris vittata of Fubricius.^ 



