Hermavphaya.'] PHVTOPHAQA. 361 



KERMJEOPHAOA, Foudras. 



Eight species only are contained in this genus, of which three are 

 found in Europe, one of which also occurs in Algeria ; the remainder 

 have been described from Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Nagasaki ; 

 they are oval, convex insects, with the anterior coxal cavities open 

 behind ; the thorax has an obsolete transverse impression before base, 

 bounded on each side by a short but distinct fold or impressed line ; 

 the maxillary palpi have the last joint elongate and acuminate at apex ; 

 the antenna; are rather broadly distant at base, and the tibiae are 

 furnished at apex with a distinct spur. 



H. mer curtails, F. Short oval, subhemispherical, very convex, 

 shining, of a deep cyaneous blue colour ; head triangular with the frontal 

 furrows gradually converging, antennae dark with the base, except the 

 upper surface of the first joint, red ; thorax about twice as broad as long, 

 about as broad at base as at apex, scarcely punctured, smooth and 

 shining ; elytra with very fine double punctuation, and traces of two 

 somewhat stronger rows on disc towards base ; the wings are absent or 

 rudimentary ; legs dark ; the male has the fifth ventral segment of 

 abdomen subtruncate at apex. L. 2-3 mm. 



In woods and hedges; on Mercurialis perennu ; locally common; Caterham, 

 Micklebam, Darentb, Croydon, Birch Wood, Oohamhnrst, Keigate, Chatham, West 

 Wickham, Bearsted near Maidstone ; Hastings ; Isle of Wight ; Glanvilles 

 Wootton ; Bristol; South Wales; it has not, apparently, occurred in the Midland 

 districts or further north. 



PHYXiIiOTRETA, Foudras. 



In this genus the anterior coxal cavities are open behind ; the thorax 

 is truncate at base, and has the posterior angles obtuse or right angles ; 

 the pygidium is not channelled, and the posterior tibiae are furnished 

 on their exterior margin with a lateral keel, which is not produced as 

 far as the knees ; the elytra are either unicolorous or furnished with a 

 longitudinal yellow band on each, which is variable in shape ; the genus 

 contains about eighty species, of which about a third have been described 

 since 1876 ; they will, therefore, probably be found to be much more 

 numerous than is at present supposed ; they are very widely distributed 

 throughout the world ; about thirty occur in Europe, of which fourteen 

 are found in Britain. 



Several of the species belonging to this genus are exceedingly 

 destructive to crops, especially turnips ; among these Phyllotrtta 

 iiemorum, the turnip-fly or turnip-flea, stands pre-eminent ; P. undnlatu, 

 P. consobrina, and P. crucifera are also very injurious to the same crop 

 as well as to other cruciferous plants ; for a full account of the ravages 

 of P. nemortttn the student is referred to Curtis' Farm Insects, 

 chapter i., and plate A, on which the insect, together with its larva and 



