162 COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



so completely, that it must be re-sown if a crop be 

 wanted. 



The name Phyllotreta is of Greek origin, and 

 signifies ' leaf-borer.' There are more than a hundred 

 British species of these little Beetles, and the now 

 restricted genus Phyllotreta contains fourteen species. 



We now pass to the family of the Cassidiidas, 

 commonly known by the popular and appropriate 

 name of TORTOISE BEETLES. 

 There is no possibility of mistak- 

 ing these Beetles, which are flat- 

 bodied, rounded, and have the 

 head completely hidden under the 

 wide thorax, which overlaps the 

 base of the elytra. As the insects 

 sit upon leaves, the whole of the 

 head and limbs are completely 

 hidden by the thorax and elytra, 

 just as are those of a tortoise by 

 its shell. Most of the species are 

 green, though some of them are 

 adorned with spots and stripes of 

 red and gold. All these colours 

 are exceedingly fugitive, and van- 

 ish soon after the death of the 

 a insect. Glycerine has been tried 



Cassida viridis. W j t j 1 some of theSC mSCCtS, but 



with little, or no success. 



A very common species, Cassida viridis, is shown 

 herewith. It is of a rather dull-green colour, the base 



