580 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



feed externally upon leaves and bear a parasol composed of 

 their excrement ; other species are leaf-miners. Odontota 

 rubra (Od-on-to'ta ru'bra) is a good repre- 

 sentative of this group (Fig. 707). It varies 

 in length from one eighth to one fifth of an 

 inch. It is of a reddish color, with the 

 £J^ elevated portions of the elytra more or less 

 spotted with black. The larva mines in the 

 fig. 707. leaves of apple, forming a blotch-mine; the 



transformations are undergone within the mine. We have 

 also found this species mining the leaves of bassvvood in 

 great numbers. 



The Tortoise-beetles. — Among the more beautiful Coleop- 

 tera are certain bright, golden, green, or iridescent beetles 

 found on the leaves of sweet-potato, morning-glory, nettle, 

 and other plants. In these beetles the body is flattened 

 below and convex above ; the head is nearly or quite con- 

 cealed beneath the prothorax ; and the margins of the 

 prothorax and elytra are broadly expanded, forming an 

 approximately circular or oval outline, and suggesting a 

 resemblance to the shell of a tortoise. Not all of the 

 species are iridescent ; and in the case of those that are, 

 the brightness of the colors are said to depend on the 

 emotions of the insect. What a beautiful way to express 

 one's feelings— to be able to glow like melted gold when one 

 is happy ! Unfortunately for the beauty of our collections, 

 these bright colors disappear after the death of the insect. 



The larvae of the tortoise-beetles are flattened, and have 

 the margin of the body fringed with spines. At the caudal 

 end of the body there is a forked appendage which serves 

 a very strange purpose. This fork is bent forward over the 

 back, and to it are attached the cast-off skins of the larva and 

 its excrement ; these constitute a parasol. When about to 

 change to the pupa state these larvae fasten the caudal end of 

 the body to the under side of a leaf ; the skin then splits open, 

 and is forced back to this end of the body, where it remains. 



