148 



Harris upon the Economy of some 



eral resemblance to those of Hispa suturalis^ and In the 

 course of about a week disclosed the Hispa vittata of 

 Fabriclus. This species^ as has been remarked by Mr. 

 Say,*" varies much in its colors ; but it may generally 

 be recognised by the following description. 



Hispa vittata. Greenish black, bronzed : thorax and 



L 



a longitudinal stripe on each elytron of a dull red or ru- 

 fous color. 



Length from 24 to 29 hundredths of an inch. 



Thorax punctured, the disk sometimes brassy black ; 

 elytra striato-punctate in a double series, rounded behind, 

 the outer margin entire and slightly rufous. Body gen- 

 erally greenish black, sometimes very dark steel blue or 



bluish black. 



This insect I first saw on the marsh golden-rod, in Sep- 

 tember, 1829; again in September, 1832, in great num- 

 bers In the axils of the leaves of the same plant ; and, 

 upon the tenth of June, 1834, I found it celebrating Its 

 nuptials, and discovered on the leaves of the plants, 

 frequented by it, little black grains which, I presume, 

 were the eggs of the Insect. These granular bodies 

 were about 7 hundredths of an inch long, somewhat . 

 elliptical, flattened upon the side which was glued to the 

 'leaf, and covered upon the rest of the surface with a 

 rough, black substance. They were in clusters of four 

 or five, placed side by side, and adhered closely to- 

 gether, and to the leaf on which they were fixed. Upon 

 the leaves of the plants inhabited by the other species of 

 Hispa, I have often observed somewhat similar eggs, not 

 however in clusters, but placed singly,^ and of a more 



^- 



292. 



Appendix to Keating's Narrative of Long's Expedition, page 



