Hermeophaga. | PHYTOPHAGA, 361 
HERMBEOPHAGA, Foudras, 
Hight species only are contained in this genus, of which three are 
found in Europe, one of which also occurs in Algeria; the remainder 
have been described from Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Nagasaki ; 
they are oval, convex insects, with the anterior coxal eavities open 
behind ; the thorax has an obsolete transverse impression before base, 
bounded on each side by a short but distinct fold or impressed line ; 
the maxillary palpi have the last joint elongate and acuminate at apex ; 
the antenne are rather broadly distant at base, and the tibize are 
furnished at apex with a distinct spur. 
H. mercurialis, F. Short oval, subhemispherical, very convex, 
shining, of a deep cyaneous blue colour; head triangular with the frontal 
furrows gradually converging, antenne dark with the base, except the 
upper surface of the first joint, red ; thorax about twice as broad as long, 
about as broad at base as at apex, scarcely punctured, smooth and 
shining ; elytra with very fine double punctuation, and traces of two 
somewhat stronger rows on disc towards base ; the wings are absent or 
rudimentary ; legs dark ; the male has the fifth ventral segment of 
abdomen subtruncate at apex. LL. 2-3 mm. 
In woods and hedges; on Mercurialis perennis; locally common; Caterham, 
Mickleham, Darenth, Croydon, Birch Wood, Crohamhurst, Reigate, Chatham, West 
Wickham, Bearsted near Maidstone; Hastings; Isle of Wight; Glanvilles 
Wootton ; Bristol; South Wales; it has not, apparently, occurred in the Midland 
districts or further north. 
PHYLLOTRETA, foudras. 
In this genus the anterior coxal cavities are open behind; the thorax 
is truncate at base, and has the posterior angles obtuse or right angles ; 
the pygidium is not channelled, and the posterior tibie are furnished 
on their exterior margin with a lateral keel, which is not produced as 
far as the knees; the elytra are either unicolorous or furnished with a 
longitudinal yellow band on each, which is variable in shape ; the genus 
contains about eighty species, of which about a third have been described 
since 1876; they will, therefore, probably be found to be much more 
numerous than is at present supposed ; they are very widely distributed 
throughout the world ; about thirty occur in Europe, of which fourteen 
are found in Britain. 
Several of the species belonging to this genus are exceedingly 
destructive to crops, especially turnips; among these Phyllotreta 
nemorum, the turnip-fly or turnip-flea, stands pre-eminent ; P. undulata, 
P. consobrina, and P. crucifere are also very injurious to the same crop 
as well as to other cruciferous plants ; for a full account of the ravages 
of P. nemorum the student is referred to Curtis’ Farm Insects, 
chapter i., and plate A, on which the insect, together with its larva and 
