BEETLES 69 



In the series Phytophaga the tarsi of all the legs 

 appear to be four-jointed, but close inspection reveals 

 the presence of a very small fifth joint at the base 

 of the fourth. The three basal joints of each tarsus 

 are usually clothed beneath with a dense, velvety pile. 

 The antennae, which are composed of a series of 

 simple joints, are generally rather long, sometimes 

 very long. The Phytophaga feed, almost without 

 exception, on vegetable substances, and may be 

 divided into three families viz., the seed-feeders, 1 the 

 leaf-feeders, 2 and the wood- and stem-feeders. 3 The 

 last are often called Longicornia, or " long-horns." 



The Bruchidce* may be represented by the common 

 pea-seed-beetle, 6 whose grub feeds and pupates in a 

 pea. The leaf- feeders 6 are mostly oval and convex in 

 shape, often brightly coloured with a metal-like polish : 

 but our largest species 7 is dull blue-black. It is 

 known popularly as the " bloody-nose beetle," because, 

 when irritated, it ejects a large drop of clear red fluid 

 from the mouth. The pretty little Chrysomela polita 

 (shining green thorax and legs, and red-brown elytra) 

 is often abundant in grassy places, where also other 

 species of the genus may be found. All Chrysomelid 

 larvae have well-developed thoracic legs, and feed 

 openly on the foliage of plants. The poplar- and 

 willow-leaf-beetle 8 occurs in all stages, from egg to 

 perfect insect, on the trees whose names it bears, the 

 pupa being attached by its tail to a leaf. This species, 

 and the closely similar M. longicollis, sometimes cause 

 serious damage in osier-beds, especially in the South 

 of England. 



1 Bruchida. 2 Chrysomelidce. 3 CerambycidcB. 



4 Also called Lariidcz. 6 Bruchuspisi. 6 Chrysomelida. 



7 Timarcha Icevigata. 8 Melasoma bo-buli. 



