Melasoma. | PHYTOPHAGA, 809 
representatives occurring in Europe, Asia, North, Central and South 
America, and Africa ; eight or nine species are found in Europe, most 
of which are also inhabitants of Asia; three of these oceur in Britain ; 
they much resemble Chrysomela, from which they may be distinguished 
by the small mentum, the parallel episterna of the metathorax, and the 
strongly bilobed third joint of the tarsi, as well as by having the thorax 
considerably narrower than the elytra ; the upper surface is, in part at 
least, metallic, and the elytra are not punctured in rows; the tibie have 
their external margin flattened as far as to the knees; the claws are 
simple. 
The larva and pupa of Melasoma populi are described and figured by Westwood 
(Classification, vol. i., p. 388, fig. 48, 9, 17); the larva is oblong-ovate, of a dirty 
greenish-white colour, with numerous black scaly spots; the meso- and metathorax 
are furnished with two large lateral conical tubercles, and the abdominal segments 
have also two rows of smaller dorsal and lateral tubercles, from which the insect 
when alarmed exudes a fetid whitish fluid which has somewhat the odour of bitter 
almonds ; the pupa is broad at one end, and narrowed where it attaches itself to the 
leaf to which it is fastened, and it has the last skin of the larva attached to its 
extremity ; in colour it resembles the larva; I have found the larve and pupe of M, 
longicolle, which much resemble that of M. populi, in Langworth Wood, Lincoln, 
in July, on low aspens. 
I. Upper surface unicolorous, golden green; thorax with 
the side margin not or scarcely raised ot Jat tle te op) MECaNRUM,) 22 
lI. Elytra brownish-red, thorax bluish-black or greenish, 
metallic, with the side margin strongly raised. 
i. Size larger and broader; elytra with a small black 
SPOWE SMA eyo ame) 4 6 56 a 6 a oo 
ii, Size smaller and narrower ; elytra without black spot 
abapex - - - + + 2 6 ee e ew . . . M. LONG@ICOnLE, Suffr. 
M. Porutt, L. 
M. wneum, I.. (s.g. Lineidea, Mots.). Oblong oval, not very con- 
vex, narrowed in front and widened behind, very shiny, upper surface 
bright green or golden green, sometimes coppery, under-side darker, 
blackish-green, apex of abdomen ferruginous; head depressed in 
middle, antenne short, dark with first joint metallic and joints 3-5 
reddish beneath, at all events at apex; thorax very transverse, much 
narrower than elytra, with the sides not or scarcely raised, diffusely 
punctured on disc, more closely at sides; elytra closely and rather 
strongly punctured, considerably widened behind, with the shoulders 
strongly marked and callose ; legs dark, more or less metallic, last joint 
of tarsi produced into a tooth at each side atapex. L. 53-7 mm. 
Male with the thorax smaller than in female, and the fifth ventral 
segment of abdomen subtruncate at apex. 
On alders; very local; Exeter; Leicester; Cannock Chase; Bala and Barmouth, 
Wales ; Burnt Wood, Staffordshire; Robins Wood, near Repton, common on alders 
in Jane; Chatsworth ; Durham; Scotland, local, Solway, Tweed, and Tay districts. 
M. populi, L. A large and broad oval and convex species, with the 
elytra raised before middle and depressed to base, blackish-blue or 
greenish, metallic, with the elytra red, apex narrowly black at suture ; 
