ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 277 



which are concealed under the wing-cases when not in use, are 

 dark brown. The under side of the beetle is dark green, with 

 a metallic lustre, downy about the middle, with fine brownish 

 hairs. Legs, dark shining green. It appears during July 

 and August, and is active during the day, flying from vine to 

 vine with a heavy, awkward flight and a loud, buzzing noise. 

 The female deposits her eggs in rotten wood, on which the 

 larva, when hatched, feeds ; the decaying stumps and exposed 

 decaying roots of pear, hickory, and other trees being selected 

 for this purpose. 



When full grown, the larva measures nearly two inches in 

 length, and presents the appearance shown at a in the figure. 

 It has a chestnut-brown head and a translucent, white body, 

 and much resembles the larva of the May-beetle, No. 113, 

 but is of a clearer white color, and has a heart-shaped swelling 

 on the terminal segment, which is short and cut off squarely. 

 A front view of the markings on this segment is given at d 

 in the figure. When mature, it forms a slight cocoon, into 

 which are woven its own castings mixed with particles of the 

 surrounding wood, and within this it changes to a pupa, as 

 seen at 6, from which the beetle escapes about ten days after- 

 wards ; e represents the antenna of the larva, and / one of 

 its legs, both magnified. 



This insect is common throughout the Eastern and Western 

 States and the central portions of Canada. Should it at any 

 time prove injurious, it can easily be reduced in numbers by 

 hand-picking. It feeds also on the Virginia creeper, Ampe- 

 lopsis quinquefolia. 



No. 150. The Grape-vine Flea-beetle. 



Graptodera chalybea (Illig.). 



This pretty but destructive little beetle (see Fig. 286) 

 forces itself upon the attention of grape-growers very prom- 

 inently in the spring season, when, awakened by the reviving 

 warmth of the sun from its winter state of torpidity, and 

 with appetite sharpened by its long fast, it commences its work 



