5S 



SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF 



from them, so that if they are in a horizontal position, it adheres to 

 the sides of their cages instead of falling to the bottom. In the 

 great majority of insects the amis is situated at, or near the last ring, 

 and usually on the ventral side, so that the fasces are easily left 

 behind; but the larva?, of several species of beetles that have the 

 peculiar habit of covering themselves with their own excrement, 

 have the anus not on their bellies, but on their backs. The Three- 

 lined Leaf-beetle* (Zema trilineata) has this habit, and is enabled 

 to cover itself by the singular position of the anal vent which is on 

 the back of the last segment. A closely allied European species, 

 but belonging to a different genus ( Crioceris merdigera) has the me 

 habit. In this country there is also another yellowish oval jump- 

 ing beetle (Blepharida rhois, Forster), which in the larva slate 

 covers itself with its excrement. In this instance the anus is at the 

 end of the last segment, but it is sufficiently extensile at the will of 

 the insect to allow of the accomplishment of the feat. This last 

 larva is a disgusting looking thing, and I found it last year very 

 abundant along the line of the Iron Mountain Railroad, on all three 

 of the Sumachs— R h us aromatica, glabra and copalina — preferring 

 them in the order of their naming. 



But the larvas of the Tortoise beetles are par excellence the true 

 dung carriers, for they excel all others in this medigerous art. In the 

 instances related above, the load is carried immediately on the back, 

 but our Tortoise-beetles are altogether more refined in their tastes, 

 and do not allow the dung to rest on the body, but simply shade 

 themselves with a sort of stercoraceous parasol. 



The larvas of all the species that have been observed to feed on 

 the Sweet-Potato are broad and flattened like the beetles, and have 

 the margin of the body furnished with spines which are often barbed, 

 (Fig. 27,2). They all belong to the genera Cassirfa and Coptocycla, and 

 there are thirty two of these spines, or sixteen on each side of the 

 body. Four of these are situated on the prothorax, which forms two 

 anterior projections beyond the common margin ; four of them— the 

 two anterior ones longer than the others— are on each of the two fol- 

 lowing thoracic segments, and each of the abdominal segments is 

 furnished with but two. There are nine elevated spiracles each side 

 superiorly, namely, one immediately behind the prothorax and eight 

 on the abdominal segments. The fore part of the body is projected 

 shield-like over the head, which is retractile and small. 

 In a closely allied genus (Chelymorpha) to 

 which belongs a brick-red insect with black 

 .spots (6'A. cribraria, Fabr., Fig. 28, pupa; 29 

 beetle) found upon Milkweed (Asclepias), and 

 which has the body greatly rounded above, with, 

 scarcely any lateral flange, the larva, as ob- 

 served by Dr. Packard, has the prickles smooth and not 



*FirstRep., p. 100. 



[Fig. 29.] 



