170 



PEA-WEEVIL BEETLES. 



Althoug-h tlie beetles are very beautiful, the larvae are as 

 nasty; tbey are flat, with long spines along the margins, and in 

 addition they possess a forked appendage at the posterior end, 

 which serves a very filthy purpose. It is bent forward over the 

 back, and to it are attached the cast-off skins of the larva and also 

 its excrement. The fork carrying such material is borne like an 

 umbrella. In New Jersey, ^Maryland, and Virginia, where these 

 insects abound in the sweet-potato fields, the larv?e have received 

 the name "peddlers," since they carry a "pack." When ready 

 to change to a pupa the larva fastens the posterior end of its 

 body to the underside of a leaf, and now the skin splits open, and 

 is forced back, exposing a pupa, which soon gives forth a beetle. 

 Wherever such beetles are numerous the young plants of the 

 sweet-potato should be dipped into arsenate of lead before they 

 are set out. The solution should be fifteen ounces to fifty gallons 

 of water. 



Fig. 17^.^Cassida bivitli 

 After Rilev. 



Fig. 176.— Chelymorpba ar^us, Licht.- 

 After Packard. 



In IMinnesota we have a number of such tortoise beetles, 

 some verv large, and also some that are found on other plants 

 than those belonging to the family of Couvohiilaccae, as the net- 

 tle and sunflower. Cassida bivittata Say (Fig. 175) frequently 

 destroys the foliage (-f the 1>eautiful morning-glory, and the much 

 larger Chclymorplia argiis Licht. (Fig. 176) is frequently found 

 on the raspberry. 



F.VMILV BRUCIIIDAE. 



( Pca-zvecvil fain ily ) . 



These well known beetles, so destructive to many kinds of 

 Stored seeds of leguminous plants, as peas and beans, are not 



