136 



TIMARCHA. GALERUCIN.E. TRIMERA. 



a mass, at the extremity of the body of the pupa ; 'and, in some 

 instances, the larva, before undergoing its transformation, attaches 

 itself to the leaf by a glutinous exudation. Of the apterous 

 group, the Timarcha is the principal genus ; and the T. l&vigata 

 is a common British species, varying in length from half to three 

 quarters of an inch, and frequenting woods, turf, and low her- 

 bage. It crawls slowly, and emits a reddish-yellow fluid from 

 the joints when disturbed ; from which circumstance it is com- 

 monly known by the name of the Bloody-nose Beetle. The larvae 

 bear a strong resemblance to the perfect insect, both in appear- 

 ance, sluggishness of movement, and general habits ; when dis- 

 turbed, they roll themselves up in the manner of a Wood-louse. 

 The sub-family Galerucinoe^ may also be mentioned as contain- 

 ing the genus Haltica ; which is composed of a group of small 

 brightly-coloured Beetles, whose larvae devour the leaves of cul- 

 tivated vegetables, and occasion- 

 ally commit great devastations 

 by their numbers and voracity. 

 One of them occasionally attacks 

 the turnip in this country ; and 

 from its great leaping powers, 

 may well be designated the 

 Turnip-flea. The Turnip-fly 

 belongs to quite a different group. 

 ( 686.) 



661. Section IV. TRIMERA. The Beetles of this section are, 

 for the most part, of small size, and not very numerous. Their 

 habits are various, a portion feeding on Fungi, and the remainder 

 chiefly upon Aphides. To the latter section belongs the genus 

 Coccinella, of which several species are known in 

 this country, under the name of Lady-birds, or 

 Lady-cows. They sometimes appear in great pro- 

 fusion, and have created much alarm. It is erro- 

 neous to suppose, however, that they do any injury 

 to vegetation ; for, on the contrary, they are of great 

 benefit to plants, by feeding on the Aphides which 

 infest them ; and this they do both in the larva and perfect states. 



FIG. 360. HALTICA NEMORUM, or TUR- 

 NIP-BEETLE ; natural size and magnified. 



