108 



Insects mosl injurious to Cultivators. 



})rol)ability, have the effect of destroying the grubs, which are 

 quite inactive, and unable to escape like the parent insects. 



On the Species of Beetles allied to the Turnip Flea-Beetle. 



The striped species of Haltica, of which the turnip flea-beetle 

 may be considered as the type, are so much confused in entomo- 

 logical works [Entomologische Hcftc, ii., G////^'?;//^//, vol. iii. and 

 iv., Panzer, Laicharting, Stephens), that I have found it very diffi- 

 cult to ascertain with precision the identity of the Linna:^an H. 

 nemorum ; the original description of which is, " Saltatoria, 

 elytris linea flava, pedibus pallidis." This description agrees 

 with an insect sent from England by Mr. Kirby to Gyllenhall, 

 and mentioned by him as a variety of H. flexuosa (vol. iii. 

 p. FJ33.) ; which species is larger, according to Entom. Hefte 

 and Stephens, than the Linn^ean species, \n my collection I 

 observe, however, that the yellow-legged individuals are inva- 

 riably larger than those with black legs. The largest individuals 

 which I possess have yellow legs, and are labelled by Mr. 

 Stephens himself " nemorum." I have drawn up the following 

 descriptions from my own specimens, and have affixed thereto 

 the synonymes which appear to me to be the most correct. 



Haltica nemarzim. 

 (See /v. S3. 1.) — 

 Brassy black, 



thickly punctured ; 

 elytra with a lon- 

 •jjitudinal fulvous 

 stripe (about one 

 third of thebreadth 

 of each elytron), 

 not quite straight on the outside, and incurved at the tip; basal 

 joints of antennae, and legs, buff; the femora, especially of the 

 hind legs, being more or less suflused with black; male antennae 

 with the fourth joint enlarged. Length, If lines. Syn. Haltica 

 flexuosa var. {Entom, Hefte and Stephens.) 



The description given above perfectly agrees with the speci- 

 mens of Haltica nemorum preserved in the Linnaean cabinet, 

 which I have purposely examined, to clear up all doubt upon 

 the subject. 



Haltica ochripes Curtis Brit. Ent., pi. 630. — Agrees with 

 the preceding, except that the outside of the stripe on the elytra 

 is incurved in the middle, forming a semicircular black emargin- 

 ation ; the base of this stripe is also, on the outside, incurved ; 

 the legs are yellow, except the tips of the posterior femora ; male 

 antennae with the fifth joint enlarged. Length, 1^ lines. Syn. 

 Haltica flexuosa var. /3. {Ent. Hefte, Gyllenh., vol. iii. p. 533.) 



He'll tica intermedia Westw. {Seefg. 33. 2.) — Black, scarcely 



