302 PHYTOPHAOA. [Chrytomela. 



the legs and tarsi are rather stout, and the latter are more or less dilated, 

 especially in the males ; the males, moreover, are usually smaller and 

 narrower than the females, and have the last segment of the abdomen 

 subtruncate, sinuate or impressed. 



The larvae of Chrysomela are of longer or shorter oval form with narrow head and 

 thorax and strongly widened abdomen which is very convex ; the upper surface is 

 smooth or slightly pubescent and variously coloured ; they differ from Timarcha in 

 having nine pairs of stigmata instead of eight ; they feed on various plants, to which 

 they sometimes do considerable damage by eating large holes in the leaves. 



There are sixteen British species belonging to the genus, which may 

 be roughly distinguished as follows : 



I. Elytra with the margins broadly yellowish-red or red 



and not metallic. 



i. Elytra confusedly and rugosely punctured ; size 

 larger. 



1. Form longer ; sculpture of elytra more confluent C. SANGUINOLBNTA, L. 



2. Form shorter ; sculpture of elytra less confluent . C. MARGiNAtis.Du/X. 



(dittinguenda, Steph.) 



ii. Elytra finely punctured with distinct rows of larger 

 punctures C. MARGINATA, L. 



II. Elytra unicolorous, or with the side margins metallic. 

 i. Thorax with the side margins strongly raised. 



1. Elytra bronze, reddish-bronze, or brownish-red. 



A. Thorax and elytra concolorous. 



a. Size larger ; upper surface metallic, with 



coarse and irregular punctuation C. BANK8I, F. 



b. Size smaller ; upper surface not, or scarcely, 

 metallic, with more or less irregular rows of 



rather fine punctures C. STAPHYLEA, L. 



B. Thorax golden green C. POLITA, L. 



2. Elytra steel-blue with very regular single rows of 



rather large punctures C. OKICH AI.CIA. Mull. 



(lamina, F.) 

 ii. Thorax with side margins not, or slightly, raised. 



1. Elytra with more or less regular double rows of 



moderate punctures on disc ; colour steel-blue . . C. H.EMOPTEBA, L. 



2. Elytra irregularly punctured. 



A. Form short, subglobose. 



a. Colour very variable ; punctuation coarser ; 



size smaller C. VABIANS, Schall. 



b. Colour deep violet ; punctuation finer ; size 



larger C. GOETTINGENSIS, L. 



B. Form more oblong, as a rule, more depressed, 



but sometimes strongly convex. 

 a. Colour brilliant golden green, unicolorous, or 



partly bluish or coppery, 

 a*. Thorax with disc more coarsely punctured, 



and with sides distinctly narrowed in 



front, broadest at base ; elytra unicolor- 

 ous ; length 7-9 mm C. MENTEIBASTI, Suffr. 



b*. Thorax with disc more finely punctured, 



and with sides not, or scarcely, narrowed 



in front, broadest about middle, or us 



broad in middle as at base. 



