68 



OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



In the genus Prionus we find several very large, dark-brown spe- 

 cies, whose larvse, measuring two and one-half or three inches inlength^ 

 are quite frequently found boring roots of grape-vines, apple trees and 

 similar plants. 



Saperda Candida, Fab., a beautiful species of a cinnamon-brown 

 color above, with two broad milk-white stripes extending the whole 

 length of the body, is the parent of the much execrated " Round-headed 

 Apple tree borer" (see Fig. 26), which does so much damage in or 

 chards by boring the trees near the ground. 



The Twig-girdler (Oncideres cingulatus, Say.) has the bad habit of 

 girdling the twigs in which the female lays her eggs, it attacks both 

 fruit and forest trees. Maples, Locust and Hickory are bored by the 

 larvae of a group of beautiful beetles of the genus Clytus. They are 

 rather large, of dark colors, ornamented with curved and V-shaped 

 [Fig. 27.] transverse bands of bright yellow, pale green or white. 



The Leaf-beetles (CHR^s- 

 OMELID^E) constitute an irn- 

 e mense group of small to medi- 

 b urn-sized species, many of which 

 c display brilliant and beautiful 

 colors. The scientific name 

 given to the family, from words 

 signifying a golden apple, re- 

 fers to this quality as well 

 to the round or oval form so common among them. The 



coioS g dun-brown head if * verv short and much narrower than the pro-tho- 

 and dingy- white. rax ; the antennae somewhat enlarged toward the tips and 

 set wide apart; the eyes are round and prominent ; the legs are short 

 and stout; the joints of the feet are four in number, each broad and 

 cushioned beneath. The larvae are of a variety of forms, but mostly 

 broad and thick, with well-developed thoracic legs. They feed exposed 

 upon the surface of leaves, or, in the case of a few of the smaller spe- 

 cies, they mine between the upper and under cuticles. 



Among these beetles we find such notorious pests as the Colorado 

 Potato beetle f Doryphora 10-llneata, Say), the Asparagus beetle (Grio- 

 ceiisa asparagi, Linn.), the Striped Cucumber beetle (Diabrotica vittata, 

 Fab.), the Streaked Cottonwood beetle (Plagioperma scripta, Fab.), and 

 great numbers of others. 



The Tortoise beetles, which are the especial enemies of the Sweet 

 potato plant and of other Convolvulacas are round or oval species from 

 one-fifth to one-fourth inch in length, of a flattened oval form, with a 



AsparagU8 bee tie~, beetle; 



