76 ORDER COLEOITERA. 



Lbsoda i.ank.iua. ( Plate x, fig. 4.) 



Large, golden yellow and immaculate : scntellnm and thorax giye a given reflexion, 

 brassy in certain lights. Elytra terminated by a rounded ridge, terminating in a pro- 

 minence behind, densely haired beneath. 

 It is one of the most common and beautiful beetles of this country. It takes its specific 

 naine lanigtra, wool-bearing, from the dense wooll\ coating with which its abdomen and 

 parts beneath are supplied : it is also called the goldsmith beetle, from its beautiful color 

 above; though this name is likewise applied to the Gymnetis nittda } which is about the 

 lame size, and of a greenish color margined and varied withfulvous.lt may be recognized 

 l>\ wanting the triangular scutellum at the inner base of the elytra, this portion having 

 do apparenl juncture with the prothorax. 

 The Jireoda i> about nine-tenths of an inch long, broad oval in shape, of a 1< mon-y< Ho\\ 

 . burnished like gold on the top of the head and thorax : the underside of the 

 bod] is copper-colored, and thicklj covered with whitish wool ; and the legs are brownish 

 yellow, or brassy, shaded with green. 



'These fine beetles begin to appear in Massachusetts about the middle of May, and 

 continue generally till the twentieth of June. In the morning and evening twilight they 

 come forth from their retreats, and By about with a bumming and rustling sound among 

 the branches of trees, the tender leaves of which they devour. Pear-trees are particularly 

 subject to their attacks ; but the elm, hickory, poplar, oak, and probably also other kinds 

 of tree> are frequented and injured by them. During the middle of the day they remain 

 at rot upon the trees, clinging to the underside of the leaves ; and endeavor to conceal 

 themselves by drawing two or three leaves together, and holding them in this position 

 with their long unequal claws. Tn some seasons they occur in profusion, and then may be 

 obtained in great quantities by shaking the young trees on which they are lodged' in the 

 as they do not attempt to flywhen thus- disturbed. hut fall at once to the ground. 

 The larva of these insects are not known : probably they live in the ground, upon the 

 roots of plants. 3 Hakris's Report, p. 22 - 3. 



This insect seems to be local in its distribution, as it occurs plentifully in the public 

 ■;' Philadelphia, whilst it is rare in the interior of Pennsylvania. 



Pki.idnota punctata. ( Plate x, fig. 6.) 



I. Band uniform : head greenish behind, extending along the sides. 



Sides of the insect marked with four black spots, one upon the thorax, and three 



upon - ; and standing in a line; beneath, the color is green, glossy or sub- 



tallic. The rings of the abdomen are marked each with a single row of puncttun s. 



fine beetle, with elytra of a pale brown or tile-cob r, and marked 



as described ah i thorax is darker than the elytra; beneath, the body is brass] 



green. They fly I Lmost exclusive!;) on the leaves of the grape, and In nee 



