INNOXIOUS INSECTS. 



THE DOMINICAN 



CASE-BE ARE R- 



(Fabr.) 



Goscinoptera dominicaiia 



(Orel. CoLEOPTER.v ; Fam. Chrysomklidje.)" 



Having just given the hitherto 

 unrecorded habits of our largest flea- 

 beetle, and shown how it affects the 

 sumachs, and how it utilizes its excre- 

 ment as a covering for the egg and the 

 larva— albeit in a rather slovenly and 

 ^"^ disgusting way; I have deemed this a 

 ' I ' , ^ proper place to say a few words about 

 "^ ^'^ another beetle, not unfrequently found 



OisciNOPTEEA dominicana:— a, larva ex- , , i • i j. « «-ir 



tracted from case; b, do. with case; c. On SUmachS, and WniCll, tO SOme eX- 



yjeetle showing puiictiire.s; (i, same iiatii- . , •, • r^„ 4.1.,^ r,r.«-.« 



ialsize;e, egg eularged;/, head of larva, tent, USeS itS eXCremeut lOr tlie Sailie 



imderside; o, head of male beetle; /!, jaw 1 > t 1 r ^ ^■^^ ♦■ 



of same; i, eggs natural size; j, kg of purposes, but displays lar more talent 



larva; A-, jaw of same; Z, maxilla ot . ,1 



Bame. and taste in the manner. 



Though the beetle (Fig. 36, g enlarged, d natural size) is tolerably 

 common all over the country, its natural history has so far not been 

 recorded. It has been well christened, for it is neither ornate in color, 

 nor prone to make itself conspicuous, like its jumping cousin just 

 treated of. It is, in fact, with the exception of the labrum, which is 

 yellowish-brown, of a uniform black color, the upper surface, and 

 especially the elytra, deeply and closely pitted or punctate, and 

 sparsely covered with ash-gray pubescence; the under surface much 

 more thickly covered with the same colored pubesence. The male is 

 distinguished from the female principally by his larger jaws, {.g, h) 



During the summer months this beetle is quite frequently beaten 

 by the collector not only from Sumach but from different shrubs, or 

 young trees, such as Oak, Sassafras, Plum, Apple, Rose, etc. Being 



*The gemis Coscinoptera belongs to the Tribe Clythrini of the Subfamily Melolonthides, .and is 

 ■<flistinguished priuciiially by ils irregularly jiniictate elytra. 



