76 ORDER COLEOPTERA. 



Areoda uanigeka. ( Plate X, fig. 4.) 



Luge, golden 3 el low and immaculate : scutellum and thorax give a green reflexion, 

 brassy in certain lights. Elytra terminated by a rounded ridge, tenninatiiig in a pro- 

 minence Ix'hiiid, densely haired beneath. 



It is one of the most common and beautiful beetles of this country. It takes its specific 

 name lanigera, wool-bearing, from the dense woolly coating with which its abdomen and 

 ■fu\s beneath are supplied : it is also called tlie goldsmith beetle, from its beautiful color 

 mbove ; though this name is likewise applied to the Gymnetis nitida, Avhich is about the 

 sune size, and of a greenish color margined and varied with fulvous. It may be recognized 

 by wanting the triangular scutellum at the inner base of the elytra, this portion having 

 no apparent juncture with the prothorax. 



The Areoda is about nine-tenths of an inch long, broad oval in shape, of a lemon-yellow 

 color above, burnished like gold on the top of the head and thorax : the underside of the 

 body is copper-colored, and thickly covered with whitish wool ; and the legs are brownish 

 yellow, or brassy, slmded with green. 



' These fine beetles begin to appear in Massachusetts alx)ut the middle of May, and 

 oontinue generally till the twentieth of June. In the morning and evening twilight they 

 oome forth from their retreats, and fly about with a humming and rustling soiuid among 

 the branches of trees, the tender leaves of which they devour. Pear-trees are particularly 

 subject to their attacks ; but the elm, hickory, poplar, oak, and probably also other kinds 

 of trees are frequented and injured by them. During the middle of the day they remain 

 at rest upon the trees, clinging to the underside of the leaves ; and endeavor to conceal 

 themselves by drawing two or three leaves together, and holding them in this position 

 with their long unequal claws. In some seasons they occur in profusion, and then may be 

 obtained in great quantities by shaking the young trees on which they are lodged in the 

 daytime, as they do not attempt to fly when thus disturbed, but fall at once to the ground. 

 The larvse of these insects are not known : probably they live in the ground, upon the 

 toots of plants.' Harris's Report, p. 22 - 3. 



This insect seems to be local in ils distribution, as it occurs plentifully in the public 

 squares of Philadelphia, whilst it is rare in the interior of Pennsylvania. 



Pelidnota punctata. ( Plate X, fig. 6.) 



Large, fuscous brown and uniform : head greenish behind, extending along the sides. 

 Sides of the insect marked with foixr black spots, one upon the thorax, and three 

 upon the elytra and standing in a line ; beneath, tlie color is green, glossy or sub- 

 metallic. The rings of the abdomen are marked each with a single row of punctures. 

 The P. punctata is a fine beetle, with elytra of a pale brown or tile-color, and marked 

 as described above : the thorax is darker than the elytra ; beneath, the body is brassy 

 green. They fly by day, and feed almost, exclusively on the leaves of the grape, and hence 



