A CONSriCUOUS LARVA. 209 



The larva of this Bloody-Nose Beetle is wonderfully like the 

 perfect insect. It is large, heavy, soft-bodied, and covered 

 with a shining blue or green skin, a yellowish patch appear- 

 ing at the apex of the body. It is very common in the ditches 

 under hedgerows, especially if the hedge be allowed to flourish 

 in tlie luxuriant and picturesque manner which is so fascinating 

 to an artistic eye, and so hateful to the agricultural eye of the 

 farmer, who cares nothing for beauty, and would sacrifice the 

 loveliest country scene in England to get another cart-load of 

 turnips out of his field. How these great, sluggish, conspicuoiis 

 larvae ever escape the many perils of larval life is really won- 

 derful. I can only account for their survival on the supposition 

 that they are distasteful to the insect-eating birds. Very many 

 larvae of this section secrete a bitter, or acrid liquid, and the 

 Timarcha larva may perhaps be protected by some such means. 



On Woodcut XXII. Fig. 3, is represented a member of the 

 typical genus, Chrysomela staphylea. In this genus the wings 

 are fully developed, and the last joint of the palpi is rather 

 hatchet-shaped. The present species is a moderately large one, 

 and has the body extremely convex. The general colour is 

 reddish-brown with a slight metallic gloss. The whole upper 

 surface is covered with punctures, those of the head and thorax 

 being very fine, and those of the elytra large and irregularly 

 disposed. Beneath, the body is pale-brown. There are about 

 twenty British species of this beautiful genus. The present 

 species takes its name from the common Bladder-nut {Staphy- 

 le<i pinnata), upon which it can be found. It is a very 

 common insect. 



We will take one more example of this family, namely, the 

 insect which is represented on Woodcut XXIII. Fig. 1, and 

 is known to entomologists by the name of Prasocuris [oi 

 Jlelodes] beccabungce. In this genus the body is rather elon- 

 gated, the wings are developed, and the thorax is squared. 

 This beautiful little insect is found on the plant sometimes 

 called the Brooklime, or Short-leaved Water Speedwell {Vero- 

 nica beccabunga), that is so plentiful in running streams, its 

 thick fleshy stems reclining upon the water and just upholding 

 its pretty blue flower. 



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