BEETLES 213 



C. polita (Fig. 205). About ^ inch. Head, thorax, and legs black, with 

 metallic green tinge ; elytra reddish brown, finely pitted. 



C. distinguenda (Fig. 206). Slightly larger than preceding. Bluish black, 

 but the edges of the elytra have a golden yellow margin. Frequent on flowers 

 and in grassy places. 



C. fastuosa (Fig. 207). Length about inch. A most beautiful species. 

 Coloured with a blue-green metallic lustre. On the elytra, when together, 

 appear three longitudinal lines of violet hue, between which the green appears. 

 Found on nettles and similar plants. 



C. polygoni (Gastrophysa) (Fig. 208). Length about ^ inch. Elytra bluish 

 green ; thorax and body clay-red. Common on knot grass. 



C. raphceni (Gastrophysa) (Fig. 209). About the same size as preceding. 

 A bright metallic green. Common in grass. 



C. vitellincR (Fig. 210). Black, with a dark green-blue tinge. Found 

 on willows. 



[Note. The genus Chrysomela lives in large numbers on low plants, and is 

 most destructive. The species are oval and very convex in shape, and of 

 gorgeous metallic colours.] 



Adimonia tanaceti (Fig. 211). Under inch. Dull black; under side 

 having some scanty grey down ; deeply pitted ; pear-shaped. Found on wild 

 tansy, chiefly on South Coast. 



A. suturalis (Fig. 212). Length inch. A dull fawn colour, with black 

 head. Found on low plants. 



A. sanguinea (Fig. 2126). A similar species, but the elytra are blood-red, 

 each with two black streaks ; head black, with two reddish spots ; thorax 

 reddish, with a few black spots ; legs black. 



Gaiter uca sagittarice (Fig. 213). A brownish yellow. Found on water 

 plants. 



Agelastica halensis (Fig. 214). About | inch. Clay-yellow ; but the elytra 

 are a rich purplish black. Common on bed-straw. 



Luperus flavipes (Fig. 215). About inch. Very long antennae ; head 

 and elytra shining black ; thorax yellow. Found on pear and other fruit trees. 



L. circumspexus (Fig. 216). Black, with elytra yellow, edged with black. 



Haltica erecta (Fig. 217). The genus Haltica consists of small hopping 

 beetles, living upon low plants and trees. Sometimes known as " Flea-beetles." 

 This species is bluish green. 



H. lepidii (phyllotreta) (Fig. 218). Black, with a faint blue lustre. 



H. testacece (sphceroderma) (Fig. 219). Shining chestnut colour. 



Cassida viridis (Fig. 220). About | inch. A flat oval shape. Elytra 

 grass green ; thorax yellowish ; under side black. Lives on low plants. 

 These beetles, as larvae, have a curious fork on the back by which they carry 

 the refuse of their food, like an umbrella. The genus Cassida (Tortoise Beetles) 

 live on thistles, mint, and other plants, but look more like scale insects than 

 beetles. 



