12 



takes place in a few hours. The pupa is retained in the larva 

 skin. 



The pupa. — The pupae are familiarly known among the willow 

 pupated growers as ' ' hangers. ' ' Usually all of the first brood have 

 by June ic The pupae are attached promiscously to the under 

 surfaces of the leaves, usually upon the upper half of the willow 

 or upon blades of grass or weeds growing in the willow rows. They 

 are shining black on the anterior half and dark brown on the pos- 

 terior. They vary in length but measure on the average, when 

 first formed, about 9 mm. and are about one-third as broad on 

 the anterior half, tapering from the middle to the posterior 

 extremity. Plate III, figs. 3 and 4. 



As the time approaches for the mature insect to come forth, the 

 outline of the pupa becomes more distinct. The posterior half 

 which becomes an empty skin, shrivels and the true pupa stands 

 out prominently. It is oval in outline, more or less obtusely 

 rounded at each end, and measures about 6 mm. by 3.5 mm. The 

 pupa stage lasts from ten days to two weeks. 



The mature insect. — The mature insects, beetles, vary in length 

 from 5 mm. to 8 mm. and are a little more than half as broad as 

 long. The general color is black and gold above and dark metal- 

 lic green beneath. The head and thorax are black, the latter 

 having broad lateral margins of brick red partially interrupted at 

 the middle by a more or less distinct black mark. The elytra 

 are marked with black and gold, the black being in three inter- 

 rupted longitudinal lines on each elytron. The lateral and pos- 

 terior margins are brick red. The inner margins are black and 

 when the elytra are at rest form a broad, median line of black. 

 The other markings on the elytra vary. In some individuals the 

 gold predominates, while in others the black is more prominent. 



The legs are brick red and black, the former color usually pre- 

 vailing on the posterior third of the femur and the anterior two- 

 thirds of the tibia. The tarsi are marked more or less regularly 

 with brick red and black. Plate III, fig. 5, is from a photograph 

 showing the mature insect natural size and enlarged. 



The beetles or ' ' hard shells ' ' as they are commonly known 

 among willow-growers, are most numerous on the willows, about 



