574 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



The Red Milkweed-beetles, Tetraopes (Tet-ra-o'pes). — 

 There are several species of bright-red beetles that are com- 

 mon on milkweeds (Asclepias). These belong to the genus 

 Tetraopes. Our most common species (Fig. 699) is T. tetra- 

 opJitJialmus (T. tet-ra-oph-tharmus). In this species there 

 are four black spots on each wing-cover, and the antennae 

 are black, and not ringed with a lighter color. The larva 

 bores in the roots and the lower parts of the stems of milk- 

 weeds. 



Family Chrysomelids (Chrys-o-mel'i-dae). 



The Leaf-beetles or Chrysomelids {Chrys-o-me' lids). 



The Leaf-beetles are so called because they feed upon 

 the leaves of plants both as larvae and adults. They are 

 usually short-bodied, and more or less oval in outline ; the 

 antennae are usually of moderate length ; and the front is 

 not prolonged into a beak. The legs are usually short, and 

 are furnished with tarsi of the same type as those of the 

 preceding family (see Fig. 689, p. 567). 



Although we are unable to cite any characteristic that 

 will invariably distinguish these beetles from the preceding 

 family, the student will rarely have any difficulty in making 

 the distinction. The beetles of the genus Donacia, described 

 below, are the only common ones that are liable to be mis- 

 placed. In other cases the more or less oval form of the 

 body, the comparatively short antennae, and the leaf-feeding 

 habits will serve to distinguish the Chrysomelids. 



The Leaf beetles are nearly all comparatively small, 

 the Colorado Potato-beetle being one of our larger spe- 

 cies. 



The eggs are usually elongated and yellowish, and are 

 laid upon the leaves or stems of the plants upon which the 

 larvae feed. Many of the larvae live exposed on the leaves 

 of plants ; others that live in similar situations cover them- 

 selves with their excrement ; some are leaf-miners ; and a 



