136 TIM ARCHA. G ALERUCINjE. 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 Galerucinas^ 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 



FIG.360.-HALTICANEMORUM, or TUR- Turnip-flea. The Turnip-fly 

 NIP-BEETLE; naturalize and magnified, 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. 



