64 



FOREST ENTOMOLOGY. 



Genus Phyllodecta. 



This is truly an arboreal genus. The beetles are usually of a bronze 

 or metallic colour, oblong shape, parallel sides, rather long antennae, 

 elytra with beautifully punctured striae. 



Fowler gives the following specific characters viz. : 

 I. Punctured striae of elytra irregular, colour blue 



P, vuhjatissima, L. 

 IT. Punctured striae of elytra regular. 



1. Forehead broadly excavated ; antennae longer ; colour dark 



blue ..... P. cavifrons, Thorns. 



2. Forehead with a slight depression, not excavated ; antennae 



shorter ; colour, as a rule, bronze . P. vitellince, L. 



The two species P. vuhjatissima and P. vitellince are often con- 

 founded, and very difficult to distinguish by the practical man, 

 affording, perhaps, a good case in point where the services of the 

 systematic Coleopterist would be valuable. 



Phyllodecta (Phratora) vitelline (Kirby). 



This beetle (fig. 62), which is in many parts of the country popu- 

 larly known as the willow beetle, is about one-sixth to one-eighth of 



an inch in length, of a bluish-black 

 metallic colour, with a dash of bronze 

 or green above and more below. The 

 body is oval-shaped, with longitudinal 

 punctured rows on the elytra. 



The perfect insects hibernate in 

 rotten wood and underneath the bark 

 of trees, more especially such rough 

 parts as those on Ontario poplar and 

 the excrescences on ash caused by the 

 fungus Nectria ditissima. In such 

 places I have often found them in 

 mid-winter. On the arrival of spring 

 and the general appearance of vegeta- 

 tion they leave their sheltering places, and betake themselves to the 

 osiers or poplars. 



The female deposits her eggs in small clusters, generally six eggs in 



Fig. 62. Phyllodecta vitelline 

 (willow beetle), very much enlarged. 

 (Drawn by P. J. Brown.) 



