138 



LEAF-BEETLES. 



ish beetle, found very commonly upon the foliage of raspberries, 

 blackberries, and that of other plants and trees. The larva of 

 this beetle (Chlamys plicata Oliv.) is also a sac-bearer, as may 

 be seen in the illustration (Fig. 141). 



Other beetles, all not much longer than one-eighth of an 

 inch, and belonging to the genera Bassarcns, Cryptocephalus, 

 and Pachyhrachys, usually beautifully colored and marked with 



Fig. 14,1.— Cblamys plicata, Oliv.— After Marlatt (in part). 



bright spots and lines, are also found upon the foliage of fruit- 

 producing plants, but are not apt to cause any serious injury. 

 The larvae of most of them are not even known, but as far as dis- 

 covered they are all sac-bearers, and live as such in or about the 

 nests of ants. 



THE GRAPE-VINE FIDIA. 



(Fidia longipcs Mels.). 



Whenever this insect and some closely allied ones becomes 

 at all numerous, it can cause considerable damage to the wild 

 and cultivated grape. Some years ago nearly all the leaves of 

 certain varieties of grape were destroyed by these beetles, which 

 cut straight and elongated holes, into the leaves, about one-eighth 

 of an inch in diameter, thus reducing them to mere shreds. The 

 illustration, (Fig. 142), shows this insect. In the more south- 

 ern states they sometimes literally swarm, and are in such cases 

 perfectly able to destroy the entire foliage in even large vine- 

 yards. 



