COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 263 



EUMOLPUS CUPKEUS. 

 PLATE XXX. Fig. 2. 



The Eumolpi differ from the allied genera in hav- 

 ing mandibles of ordinary size, and the second joint 

 of the antennae much shorter than the following. 

 The species are pretty numerous, and many of them 

 are insects of great beauty. They are usually found 

 on the leaves of plants, sometimes associated in con- 

 siderable numbers. This is the case particularly 

 with E. fulgidus, one of the largest kinds and the 

 most common in Brazil. The species represented 

 is a native of America. The head, thorax, and 

 scutellum, are greenish blue, of a very beautiful 

 tint, especially when moistened. The elytra are 

 closely but distinctly punctured, of a rich coppery 

 red glossed with green. The under side and legs 

 are bluish green, the latter somewhat pubescent to- 

 wards the foot. 



The extensive genus Chrysomela is character- 

 ised by the body being ovate and very convex, — 

 by the antennae thickening slightly towards the 

 apex, — and by the dilated and somewhat hatchet- 

 shaped terminal joint of the maxillary palpi. The 

 name, which signifies an apple of gold, has been 

 suggested by the rounded form and rich colouring 

 of the species. In the last particular, they are not 

 inferior to any of our native insects, many of them 



