﻿PIIYTOPHAGA CHRYSOMELIDAK 



281 



body is peculiarly shaped in conformity with the curious habit 

 of using the excrement as a covering. The larva is less elon- 

 gate than usual, and has the anus placed on the upper surface, 

 and formed so that the excrement when voided is pushed forward 

 on to the Insect ; here it is retained by means of a slimy matter, 

 and a thick coat entirely covering the creature, is ultimately 

 formed. The larva of Lema melano2)a is not uncommon about 

 Cambridge, where it feeds on the leaves of growing corn. It is 

 a remarkable fact that even in one genus the species have some 

 of them this habit, but others not. The species of Crioceris 

 living on lilies — C. merdigera, 

 e.g. — are noted for possessing it; 

 while C. asparagi does not pro- 

 tect itself in this way, but emits 

 fluid from its mouth when dis- 

 turbed. This larva is a serious 

 nuisance in some localities to the 

 cultivators of asparagus. The 

 eggs are deposited on the stems 

 of the plant — as shown in our 

 figure — sometimes in great num- 

 bers. 



The perfect Insects of many 

 of the Criocerides possess a stridu- 

 lating organ. Two contiguous 

 areas at the base of the last c 



dorsal segment, where they can 



be rubbed by the tips of the Fig. 143.— Crioceris asparagi. A, Eggs 

 1 , v -i ,1 1 , -1 j in position on stem of asparagus : B, 



elytra, are slightly elevated and OI1 / egg much enlarged . C; young 



bear very close and line straight larva. Cambridge. 



lines. 



ii. The Camptosomes, as we have already noticed, are distin- 

 guished by a peculiar structure of the abdomen. This character 

 appears to be connected with a very remarkable habit, viz. the 

 formation of a case to envelop the egg. The tip of the abdomen 

 is somewhat curved downwards, and, in the female, bears a 

 hollow near the extremity ; when an egg is extruded the female 

 holds it in this hollow by means of the hind legs, and 

 envelops it with a covering said to be excrementitious. When 

 the larva hatches, it remains within this case, and subse- 



