CHRYSOMELIDiE, 33 J 



Family LI.— CHRYSOMELID^, Leach. 



Antennce remote at the base, inserted before the eyes, moniliforni, gradually- 

 thickening to the apex, sometimes a little serrated. Falpi maxillary, fili- 

 form, or thickened exteriorly, the terminal joint frequently truncate : maxilla: 

 with the lobes subequal, subcylindric, the outer one rather broadest : body 

 subhemispheric, or ovate, sometimes elongate ovate or oblong : legs all sub- 

 equal : femora moderate : tihicE generally simple, sometimes with a denta- 

 tion on the outer margin : tarsi occasionally considerably dilated, the penul- 

 timate joint bilobed. 



The beautiful insects of this family are no less conspicuous for 

 their brilliancy and splendour of colouring, than for the extensive 

 varieties to which almost every species is subject, in regard to its 

 tint; scarcely two examples of any of the species occurring of pre- 

 cisely similar hues : it therefore becomes unnecessary to mention 

 the innumerable variations under each species, it being sufficient 

 in this place to point out the fact : in some of the species almost 

 every tint of colour may be found : they are generally of small size 

 and glabrous, and very shining, their predominant colours green, 

 blue, or gold ; they subsist, in their first and in their final stages, 

 upon the leaves of plants : their larvse are oval, with six legs, the 

 body a little elongate, and annulated, terminating in a point behind, 

 and furnished with a fleshy wart, which acts as a seventh leg ; the 

 head is scaly. Many of the species live in society, others are soli- 

 tary. The wart at the apex of the body forms a point of attach- 

 ment for the larvae when they change to pupse, most of which adhere 

 to leaves, but some few are found beneath the earth: some of the 

 larvae secrete a very foetid odour. 



The species that are found in Britain may be disposed in the 

 following genera, thus cursorily described : 



Cafut nutans, exsertum. 



Elytra libera. Alati. 



Thorax transversus. 



Palpi filiformes, apice plemmque obtuso, aut acuto : 404. PhjEDON'. 



apice distincte truncate : . . 407. Melasoma. 

 subsecuriformes : .... 405. Chrysomela. 



Thorax quadratus : corpus elongatum : . . 408. Hei.odes. 



Elytra connata. Apteri : . . . . 406. Timarcha. 



Caput verticale, thorace fere penitus intrusum. 

 Antennce hieves, seiratm t . . . . 409. Clythra. 



corporis fere longitudine, simplices. 



Antennce Slitormes, art', cylindrico-obconicis: 410. Cryptocephalus. 



art^. ultimis latioribus. 

 Po/pj apice subcrassiores : . . 411. Eumolpus. 



filiformes: .... 412. Colaspis. 



