32 



COLEOPTERA. 



Fig. 11. 



There is an undescribed kind of Phyllophaga, or leaf-eater, 

 called, in my Catalogue of the Insects of Massachusetts,* fra- 

 terna, because it is nearly akin to the quercina, in general 

 appearance. It differs from the latter, however, in being 

 smaller, and more slender; the punctures on its thorax and 

 wing-covers are not so distinct, and the three elevated lini's 

 on the latter are hardly visible. It measures thirteen 

 twentieths of an inch in length. This beetle may be seen 

 in the latter part of June and the beginning of July. Its 

 habits are similar to those of the more abundant May-beetle 

 or dor bug. 



~ 



Another common Phyllophaga has baen described by Knoch 

 and Say, under the name of hirticida ( Fig. 

 11), meaning a little hairy. It is of a bay- 

 brown color, the punctures on the thorax 

 are larger and more distinct than in the 

 quercina, and on each wing-cover are three 

 longitudinal rows of short, yellowish hairs. 

 It measures about seven tenths of an inch 

 in length. Its time of appearance is in 

 June and July. 



In some parts of Massachusetts the Phyl- 

 lophaga G-eorcficana (Fig. 12) of Gyllenhal, 

 or Georgian leaf-eater, takes the place of the 

 quercina. It is extremely common, during 

 May and June, in Cambridge, where the 

 other species is rarely seen. It is of a bay- 

 brown color, entirely covered on the upper 

 side with very short, yellowish gray hairs, 

 and measures seven tenths of an inch, or 

 more, in length. 



* In order to save unnecessary repetition?, it may be well to state, that the 

 Catalogue above named, to which frequent reference will be made in the course 

 of this treatise, was drawn up by me, ;n:d was published in Professor Hitchcock's 

 Report on the Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology of Massachusetts, and 

 that two editions of it appeared with the Report, the first in 1833, and the sec- 

 ond, with numerous additions, in 1835. 



Fig 12. 



