580 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



feed externally upon leaves and bear a parasol composed of 

 their excrement ; other species are leaf-miners. Odontota 

 rubra (Od-on-to'ta ru'bra) is a good repre- 

 sentative of this group (Fig. 707). It varies 

 in length from one eighth to one fifth of an 

 inch. It is of a reddish color, with the 

 elevated portions of the elytra more or less 

 spotted with black. The larva mines in the 

 fig. 707. leaves of apple, forming a blotch-mine ; the 



transformations are undergone within the mine. We have 

 also found this species mining the leaves of basswood in 

 great numbers. 



The Tortoise-beetles. — Among the more beautiful Coleop- 

 tera are certain bright, golden, green, or iridescent beetles 

 found on the leaves of sweet-potato, morning-glory, nettle, 

 and other plants. In these beetles the body is flattened 

 below and convex above ; the head is nearly or quite con- 

 cealed beneath the prothorax ; and the margins of the 

 prothorax and elytra are broadly expanded, forming an 

 approximately circular or oval outline, and suggesting a 

 resemblance to the shell of a tortoise. Not all of the 

 species are iridescent ; and in the case of those that are, 

 the brightness of the colors are said to depend on the 

 emotions of the insect. What a beautiful way to express 

 one's feelings— to be able to glow like melted gold when one 

 is happy! Unfortunately for the beauty of our collections, 

 these bright colors disappear after the death of the insect. 



The larvae of the tortoise-beetles are flattened, and have 

 the margin of the body fringed with spines. At the caudal 

 end of the body there is a forked appendage which serves 

 a very strange purpose. This fork is bent forward over the 

 back, and to it are attached the cast-off skins of the larva and 

 its excrement ; these constitute a parasol. When about to 

 change to the pupa state these larvae fasten the caudal end of 

 the body to the under side of a leaf ; the skin then splits open, 

 and is forced back to this end of the body, where it remains. 



