ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



327 



gether, first ou one side and flicn on the other. 

 Each act of jerking is accompanied by a sliarp, 

 creaking sort of noise, not unlike the subdued 

 chirji of a tirasshoiipcr. It may be necessary 

 lor sonic persons lo bring flic ear rather near tlie 

 larva to hear the sounds, but to persons having 

 good auditory nerves the noise is ])atent cnougli, 

 and I have no doubt it is audible enough to 

 Ichiieuinou flics and other parasites. Now, how 

 are these- sounds produced? Is it by a sharp 

 emission of air through the breathing holes? 



It is remarkable that when attacked tliis cater- 

 ])illar always elevates its tail, which, in that 

 position, looks like a snake's head, the glossy 

 Inbcrcle adding to the deceptioji; and this cy- 

 clopean appearance renders it a quite formidable 

 iiiiimal to look at. 



W. V. Anoukws. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE (il!.ArE-VINR.-Xo, 12. 

 The Grape-vine Plea-lieetlc. 



\HaUica chahjUa, lUiger.) 



m^i^ 



readers are well aware, is entirely inapplicable.* 

 The former name is not suflicicntly character- 

 istic, because the color varies from steel-blue lo 

 metallic-green and purjile, and because there 

 are many other flea-beetles to which it would 

 equally apply. 



The Grape-vine Flea-beetle is found in all 

 parts of the United States and in the Canadas, 

 and it habitually feeds on the Alder {Alnm Hcr- 

 rulata), as well as upon the wild and cultivated 

 Grape-vine. Its depredations seem first lo liave 

 been noticed in 1831, by Judge Darling of Con- 

 necticut, and in 1834 Mr. David Thomas, of New 

 York, published an account of it in the 26th 

 volume of Sillimau's American Journal of Sci- 

 ence. Its transformations were, liowever, un- 

 known till some time alter Dr. Harris wrote 

 his excellent work on Injurious Insects, and no 

 figure of the larva has been hitherto published. 



The beetles hibernate in a torpid state under 

 any shelter which is alTorded them in the 

 vineyard, such as the loose bark and crevices of 

 stakes, etc., etc., and they are roused to activity 

 quite early in the spring. The greatest damage 

 is done by them at this early season, for they 

 often bore into and scoop out the unopened bud, 

 and th^s I'^'-Ut. die grape-grower's bright ex- 

 jfj j Y/ ■••,,.-.». ,.^„.-.„<i .1,,- little 



