108 



Insects most injurious to Cultivators. 



probability, have the effect of destroying the grubs, which are 

 quite inactive, and unable to escape like the parent insects. 



On the Species of Beetles allied to the Turnip Flea-Beetle. 



The striped species of Haltica, of which the turnip flea-beetle 

 may be^considered as the type, are so much confused in entomo- 

 logical works [Efitomologische Hefte^ ii., Gyllenhall^ \6\.m. ?iud 

 iv., Panzer, Laicharting, StepheJis), that I have found it very diffi- 

 cult to ascertain with precision the identity of the Linnaean H. 

 nemorum ; the original description of which is, " Saltatoria, 

 elytris linea flava, pedibus pallidis." This description agrees 

 with an insect sent from England by Mr. Kirby to Gyllenhall, 

 and mentioned by him as a variety of H. flexuosa (vol. iii. 

 p. 533.) ; which species is larger, according to Entom. Hefte 

 and Stephens, than the Linnaean species. In my collection I 

 observe, however, that the yellow-legged individuals are inva- 

 riably larger than those with black legs. The largest individuals 

 which I possess have yellow legs, and are labelled by Mr. 

 Stephens himself " nem.orum." I have drawn up the following 

 descriptions from my own specimens, and have affixed thereto 

 the synonymes which appear to me to be the most correct. 



Haltica nemorurii. \^ t _J/ 33 



(See Z^-. 33. 1.) — 

 Brassy black, 



thickly punctured ; 

 elytra with a lon- 

 gitudinal fulvous 

 stripe (about one 

 third of the breadth 

 of each elytron), 

 not quite straight on the outside, and incurved at the tip; basal 

 joints of antennae, and legs, buff; the femora, especially of the 

 hind legs, being more or less suffused with black ; male antennae 

 wiih the fourth joint enlarged. Length, 1;| lines. Syri. Haltica 

 flexuosa var. [Entom. Hefte and Stephens.) 



The description given above perfectly agrees with the speci- 

 mens of Haltica nemorum preserved in the Linnaean cabinet, 

 which I have purposely examined, to clear up all doubt upon 

 the subject. 



Haltica ochripes Curtis Brit. Ent., pi. 630. — Agrees with 

 the preceding, except that the outside of the stripe on the elytra 

 is incurved in the middle, forming a semicircular black emargin- 

 ation ; the base of this stripe is also, on the outside, incurved ; 

 the legs are yellow, except the tips of the posterior femora ; male 

 antennae with the fifth joint enlarged. Length, 1^ lines. Syn. 

 Haltica flexuosa var. |3. [Ent. Hefte, G^lfenh., vol. iii. p. 533.) 



Haltica intermedia Westw. (See^/F^. 33. 2.) — - Black, scarcely 



