Some account of the Chrysomela vitivora. 1 13 



Art. XIX. — Communications by David Thomas. 



1. Some account of the Chrysomela vitivora, (with an engraving.) 



In the spring of 1831, 1 first observed these brilliant insects creep- 

 ing on my vines ; and on a closer inspection, 1 found they were de- 

 vouring the buds, eating out the central and more succulent parts. 

 Some were advanced even half their lengths into the buds. The 

 exigency required prompt measures ; in our first attack, we proba- 

 bly killed a hundred ; and we continued our examinations, picking 

 up a few stragglers almost daily, till we had nearly destroyed the 

 colony. 



In the spring, they are commonly in pairs. When disturbed, they 

 rather jump than fly, and remain where they fall for a time without 

 motion. 



On presenting this insect at that time, to a student in Entomology, 

 he pronounced it a Chrysomela ; and at my request furnished the fol- 

 lowing description. The specific name which he has proposed is in- 

 dicative of its feeding and living on the vine (Pitts.) 



Chrysomela. Generic character : Tarsi, with four joints ; palpi 



six; antennae moniliform, thickening towards the tip ; thorax margin- 

 ed; body ovate or oblong, convex. 



C. vitivora. Specific description : upper surface of the elytra, head, 

 and thorax, of a deep greenish blue ; the under surface of the elytra, 

 the wings, the mouth, and the upper part of the abdomen, brown ; 

 the legs, antennae, and the upper surface of the body, dark green ; 

 antennae the length of the abdomen. 



" Inquiries were made of several gentlemen versed in Entomolo- 

 gy, whose impressions were that the insect had not before been de- 

 scribed." 



It was soon after observed in other parts of Cayuga County ; a 

 correspondent informed me that it had been seen near Philadelphia ; 

 and on my inquiring in a horticultural journal, if it had appeared in 

 other places, Notes Darling, Esquire made the following state- 

 ment : 



" For New Haven (Con.) and its vicinity, I answer, that this in- 

 sect made its appearance last spring (1831) but not I believe for the 

 first time. Its numbers however, were unusually great ; and the in- 

 jury which it has done to the vines, is wholly unexampled. Some 

 vines were entirely despoiled of their fruit buds, so as to be rendered 



Vol. XXVL— No. 1. 15 



