144 LEAF-BEETLES. 



antennae) ; and Graphops is purple or green, with a bronzed me- 

 tallic luster, and covered with a gray pubescence, of which both 

 other species are destitute." 



As far as the adults are concerned they do not feed alone 

 upon the strawberries, but are rather general feeders. Colaspis 

 brunnca feeds by preference upon strawberry leaves early in the 

 season, but later becomes very destructive by eating the foliage 

 of the wild and cultivated grape-vine, hence is frequently named 

 "Grape-vine Colaspis." It also occurs upon the blossoms of 

 clover and willow, and upon the leaves of many kinds of trees, 

 as it is frequently beaten into umbrellas used to catch insects. 



Paria species are also general feeders ; they do not alone in- 

 jure the leaves of strawberry, but those of raspberry and crab 

 apple as well. Many other leaves are eaten, and even the needles 

 of the Juniper are to their taste. 



Graphops prefers the strawberry plants, but is also very par- 

 tial to the evening primrose, as large numbers of these beetles 

 are found on this plant. 



The life-histories of these insects as far as known are curi- 

 ously different in respect to the times and periods of their de- 

 velopment. The larva of Colaspis appears early in the 'season, 

 and does its mischief chiefly in the months of April and May, the 

 beetles beginning to emerge in June. That the eggs are laid in 

 the preceding year is highly probable, in which case the species 

 hibernates in the egg. 



Paria, on the other hand, certainly passes the winter as an 

 adult, doubtless laying its eggs in spring, and making its principal 

 attacks upon the plants in June and July, the beetles emerging in 

 the latter part of July, and early in August. 



Graphops hibernates in the larval condition, pupates in the 

 spring, and emerges in May and June. The eggs are probably 

 laid in July, and the larva- make their attack upon the plant in 

 August and September, continuing it possibly to October as well. 



As larvae all three prefer the strawberry roots and crowns, 

 and as far as known depend strictly upon this food. If at all 

 numerous they kill the infested plants very soon, since as many 



