58 CHRYSOMELA. 



Linnaeus observes that this larva diffuses, on hand- 

 ling, a highly fetid, and even insupportable smell. 

 In general, on touching the larva, a small drop of 

 white fluid instantly appears from a pore on the 

 tip of each of the lateral tubercles, and after 

 some time, again disappears. It is this white fluid 

 which diffuses the odour above-mentioned, and 

 which is of so penetrating a nature, that on hand- 

 ling the animal, the smell will often remain on the 

 fingers throughout the whole day. Even when 

 recently hatched these larvae possess the power of 

 discharging the fetid fluid. In the month of June 

 the larva changes to a short brown chrysalis, so 

 fastened as to hang by its extremity from the foot- 

 stalk of a leaf or twig; and from this, in the 

 space of a fortnight or less proceeds the complete 

 Chrysomela. 



Chrysomela Asparagi is an insect of peculiar 

 beauty: it is often seen feeding on the Asparagus,- 

 and is of an oblong or subcylindric shape, with 

 red thorax, and yellow wing-shells marked by 

 blackish-blue bands. 



Chrysomela Gramims is a common, but highly 

 elegant insect, measuring about the fifth of an 

 inch in length, and being of a most vivid but deep 

 golden-green colour : the male, which is some- 

 what smaller, is often tinged with copper-colour : 

 this species is of an extremely convex shape. 



Chrysomela Betulce is one of the richest of the 

 genus, being entirely of the most brilliant and 

 beautiful grass-green: it is found on Birch-trees. 



Chrysomela merdigera is of an oblong form, and 



