106 



INJUEIOUS INSECTS 



shield to the body, by being ever enveloped, after the 

 first moult, in the cast-off prickly skins, which are kept 

 free from excrement. Moreover, this fork is seldom held 

 close down to the back, as in the other species, but more 

 usually at an angle of 45° over or from the body, thus 

 suggesting the idea of a handle. 



When full fed, this larva attaches itself to the under- 

 side of the leaf, and in two days the skin bursts open on 

 the back, and is worked down towards the tail; when 

 the pupa, at first pale, soon acquires a dull brownish 



Fig. 70. — TWO-STKIPED 

 TORTOISE-BKETLE. 



Larva, natural size. 



Fig. Tl. — TWO-STBIPED TOKTOI8B- 



JIEETLE. 



2, Larva ; 3, Pupa ; 4, Beetle. 



color, the narrow whitish tail, which still adheres pos- 

 teriorly being significant of the species. (See fig. 71, 

 3.) 



The beetle (fig. 71, 4), is of a pale yellow, striped with 

 black, and though broader and vastly different scientif- 

 ically, still bears a general resemblance to the common 

 Striped Cucumber-beetle {Dialrotica vittata, Fabr.) 



THE GOLDEN TORTOISE-BEETLE. 

 {Cassida aurichalcea, Fabr.) 



Next to the preceding species, the Golden Tortoise- 

 beetle is the most numerous on our Sweet-potatoes; but it 

 does not confine its injuries to that plant, for it is found 

 in equal abundance on the leaves of the Bitter-sweet and 

 ou the different kinds of Convolvulus or Morning Glory. 



