[29] Report of the State Entomologist. 125 



Literature. 

 For additional information of the insect, some of the following 

 publications may be referred to: 



Amer. Quart. Journ. Agricul.-Sci., iv, 1846, p. 300 (description and figure 

 of beetle). 



Report U. S. Dept. Agriculture for 1868, p. 92 (figure, and habits of allied 

 species) ; ib., for 1870, p. 67 (figures, etc.). 



American Entomologist, ii, 1870, pp. 103, 128, figs. 68, 69, 90 (transforma- 

 tions) ; ib., iii, 1880, pp. 91-92, figs. 27, 28. 



Ann. Report Entomolog. Soc. Ontario, for 1873, p. 8 (figure, etc.). 



Sixth Report Insects of Illinois, 1877, p. 114 (description of larva and 

 beetle). 



Insects Injurious to Fruits. — Saunders, 1883, pp. 307, 308, figs. 316-318. 



Coptocycla aurichalcea (Fabr.). 



The Golden Tortoise- Beetle. 



(Ord. Coleopteka: Fam. Cheysomelid^.) 



Cassida aurichalcea Fabricius: Syst, Eleijth., i. 1801, p. 397, No. 53. 



Inclosed please find some little golden beetles which are found on 

 sweet potato vines. They are so destructive that plaster has been 

 dusted over the vines to drive them away. They appear to be 

 Chrysomelidce, but I have been unable to identify them. 



The beetle, of which the above inquiry is made by a correspondent 

 from Philadelphia, Pa., belongs to the Chry>iomelidce, and is at present 

 known by the common and scientific names above given. When 

 alive, their brilliant coloring, like a j^iece of gold leaf, makes them 

 one of our most beautiful insects. Its brilliancy varies greatly with 

 its emotions, it is thought, and disappears with its death. They are, 

 however, very injurious to the sweet potato vine, which is their 

 favorite food-plant; they also occur on the bitter-sweet, morning- 

 glory, and different species of Convolvulus. The eggs are laid singly 

 on the leaves of the larval food-plant, and are somewhat unusual 

 in form, being angular and flattened, with some spinous appendages. 



The Larva. 



The larva is a peculiar looking creature. It is broadly oval, rather 



flat, about one-fourth of an inch lo^^ when full-grown, its body is 



dark brown with a j)aler shade on the back, margined with a range 



of stiff branching spines, and terminating in a long forked tail, 



