THE EUPODA, OE PHYTOPHAGA. 



Thapsus, Dulcamara, Hyoscyamus, Atropa, Alliaria, and 

 the Cruciferce generally, having all their peculiar de- 

 vourers in this family. 



Graptodera contains our largest species; somewhat 

 resembling the Gallerucida in shape ; usually of an uni- 

 form blue or green in colour ; and occurring plentifully 

 on hazel, etc. : Hermaophaga, considerably smaller, and 

 very convex, is exclusively devoted to Mercurialis peren- 

 nis > the leaves of which are riddled by it to a large ex- 

 tent : Crepidodera, distinguished by the abrupt depres- 

 sion in the middle of the base of the thorax, comprises 

 several insects of bright and metallic colours, C. hdxines, 

 aurata, and chloris being especially bright ; of these the 

 first is the largest and broadest, found on poplars, with 

 entirely yellow antennae and legs (except the hind fe- 

 mora), uniformly coppery, green, or blue, and with the 

 thorax not so roughly or closely punctured as the second, 

 which is smaller, occurs on willows abundantly, has its 

 antennae, and sometimes its legs, more or less suffused 

 with dark, and its thorax often of a different colour to 

 its elytra. C. chloris, found on poplars, is narrower 

 than aurata, always unicolorous, and with four joints at 

 the base of its antennae yellow, the remainder being ab- 

 ruptly black. 



The species of Mantura are remarkable for their cylin- 

 drical shape, affording a great contrast to the larger 

 and pallid Spharoderma, which resemble nothing so 

 much in structure as half a microscopic orange, with the 

 flat side down. 



Aphthona contains some inconspicuous forms, some- 

 what resembling certain of the genus Thy amis, from 

 which they may be distinguished by the basal joint of 

 their hinder tarsi being much shorter. 



