60 



The family of the Chrysomelidse terminates with the Cassidiidse, a group of beetles 

 deriving their name from the Latin word cassida, a helmet, and they are commonly 

 known as Helmet beetles, from their fancied resemblance to that portion of a warrior's 

 armour. Some of the species are very beautiful, the colours being delicate and brilliant. 

 The wing-covers and the sides of the thorax protrude so as to entirely cover the legs and 

 head when the beetle is at rest, but the margins are so thin as to be quite transparent. 



Coptocycla {Cassida) aurichalcea, Fab., the Yellow Helmet beetle, is often found 

 upon morning glories, and is shield shaped, and of a beautiful golden-yellow colour. 

 The larvse feed upon the leaves of the morning glory, and are of a broad, oval, flattened 

 form. The tip of the abdomen is armed with two diverging spines, forming a fork, with 

 which the larva heaps upon its back, as a protective covering, its excrement and cast 

 larval skins. 



We have now hastily reviewed this large and interesting family, as represented in. 

 Canada, and endeavoured to describe the appearance and habits of some of the more 

 common of the species. Much, however, remains to be learnt in connection with the 

 life-histories of many of the species. A few beetles have also been mentioned which 

 may not have yet reached this country, but which have proved troublesome in the United 

 States within recent years. 



NOTES OF THE YEAE. 



By Wm. Saunders, London, Ont. 



The Grape Phylloxera.. 



Phylloxera Vastatrix. — This tiny but formidaljle foe to the grape vine, which has 

 during the past few years attracted so much attention in Europe and America, has 

 appeared in its worst form, viz.: the root inhabiting type, in Ontario, and is doing a 

 considerable amount of damage in our vineyards. Early this spring the writer received 

 from Mr. A. H. Pettit, of Grimsby, samples of fibrous roots from diseased vines, which 

 had every appearance of being affected by the Phylloxera, but the specimens were so 

 dried up that if there had been any lice on them they could not be discovered. Request 

 was made for fresh specimens in moist earth, but none were obtained. 



On the 19th of July, in company with Mr. J. M. Denton, of London, I visited the 

 vinery of Mr. Richard Stephens, in Westminster, about a mile from London, where we 

 found a number of Concord vines growing in heavy clay soil, which were suffering much 

 from some cause ; the foliage had become very yellow and some of the vines appeared to 

 be dying. On examining the roots, we could find but few living, and the fibrous roots 

 were covered with the little knotted swellings so chai-acteristic of Phylloxera. On 

 digging around some vines that were less diseased, a number of the lice were discovered 

 on the young, fresh roots, puncturing them, imbibing their juices, and causing disease 

 and death. 



On the following day, another vinery was visited, near London, where the vines 

 were planted on sandy soil, when the same form of Phylloxera was detected on Rogers 15 

 and some seedling grapes, but, in this instance, the disease was much less pronounced. 

 On examining the roots of these vines, the insects were found in the egg state, and also 

 as larvae of various sizes in comparative abundance. In the vinery of Mr. Stephens' the 

 insects must have been at work for several years past, to have caused the extent of 

 injury which we saw ; but, in the other case, the invasion appeared to be a more recent 

 one. It was gratifying to find, on Mr. Stephens' grounds, a very active, friendly insect, 

 a small mite Tyroglyphus phylloxera which feeds upon the Phylloxera, busy at work on 

 its useful mission. 



Since this insect is now known to be at work in Ontario, and probably to a greater 

 extent than we are at present aware of, a condensed account of its life history will 

 probably be interesting to our readers. Tlie figures are from Prof. Riley's excellent 

 reports, and the facts given, mainly gleaned from the writings of this and other authors. 



