56 THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S 



green, with a red thorax, and red edges to the elytra ; each 

 elytron is also marked with three more or less confluent yellowish 

 spots or blotches. 



The CryptocephalidcB and Chrysomelida include more rotund 

 beetles, with longer antennae than Crioceris. Many are of a 

 brilliant golden green, and are found gregariously resting on the 

 various plants on which they feed. Some species are blue or 

 blue-black, sometimes with a red border ; and others, again, are 

 black. 



One of the most beautiful species is Chrysomela Cerealis, 

 which is of a brilliant golden green, with a purplish lustre, and 

 with three bands on the thorax and three on each elytra, besides 

 the suture, of a deep blue, bordered with green. It is about one- 

 third of an inch in length, and is found under stones in spring, 

 and later in the year on grass and various low plants, but is not 

 very common, though met with occasionally on the Welsh 

 mountains. C. Banksii, a rather larger insect, of a bronzy- 

 green colour, is very common among grass. 



Although it is not our intention to include notices of foreign 

 insects in the present series of elementary handbooks, yet an 

 exception must be made in the case of Leptinotarsa Decemlineata, 

 the dreaded Colorado Potato Beetle, which belongs to the 

 Chrysomelidtz. It is about one-third of an inch in length, and 

 the elytra are marked with alternate stripes of black and dull 

 yellow j the thorax is also yellow, with a blackish V-shaped 

 mark in the centre, and several dark spots on each side. But a 

 very striking peculiarity which will at once identify the insect, 

 is its wings, which are not colourless, as in most other beetles, 

 but red. It has proved so destructive in North America that 

 its introduction into England is strictly forbidden, and a farmer 

 was lately fined five pounds for this offence. 



The Halticida are a family of small beetles, which are too 

 well known to the farmer, as the notorious Turnip Fly is one of 

 their number. They are oval insects, often measuring less than 

 one-twelfth of an inch in length, and have thickened femora, 

 which enables them to leap almost like fleas. The species 

 of Phyllotreta are black, generally with a yellow stripe on each 

 elytron, and are all of similar habits, and about equally destructive 

 to turnips, etc. 



The Cassidutei or Tortoise Beetles, are easily known by their 

 flattened appearance, the thorax being developed in such a 

 manner as to cover the head like a shield ; the legs and antennas 

 are rather short and thick, and the beetles are very sluggish. 

 They and their larvae feed on low plants, which they strip to 



