67 
exceptional year, as it has not been unusually abundant on its wild food 
plants, and in previous years it was not sought for on cultivated plants. 
Au effort was made to determine the extent of the injuries by this 
species in this vicinity but without success. Mr. H. EK. Weed writes, 
September 6, in response to inquiry, that it is at all times a very injuri- 
ous insect in Mississippi, and perhaps this condition will hold for all 
the Gulf States, if not for the entire austroriparian life zone. 
The present outbreaks are not local, except as the occurrences of all 
species are limited to certain localities in different seasons. The beeties 
are reported to be injurious by their work in the foliage of beans aud 
cowpeas, and the larve are 
also apparently inimical to the 
plant from their work upon 
the underground stems: but 
the precise amount of damage 
done itis difficult to determine. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE INSECT. 
The adult beetle, as previ- 
ously stated, resembles super- 
ficially Diabrotica 12-punctata, 
being a member of the same 
tribe of Chrysomelide, the 
Galerucini, to which also be- 
long the corn reot- worm, Dia- Fic. i.—Cerotoma trifurcata: a, adult beetle; b, pupa; 
brotica longicornis, the striped ce, larva; d, side view of anal segment of larva: ¢, leg of 
Saueomber, beetle, D. vittata, 8° J. cee—«. }, ¢, enlarged abont six times; d, 4, f, 
and the elm leaf-beetle, Galeru- oe ce 
cella luteola. Not infrequently it occurs on the same plant with JD. 
12-punctata, from which species it may be distinguished by its smaller 
size, more robust form, and different elytral coloration. 
The beetle measures from a seventh to a fifth of an inch (3.5-5™™") in 
length, and is nearly twice as long as wide. The prevailing color of the 
dorsal surface varies from pale yellowish or buif to dull greasy red. 
The head and ventral surface are black, the terminal joints of the 
antenne and portions of the posterior and middle legs are more or less 
marked with black; and the elytra, in what appears to be the typical 
form, are marked with black, as shown at figure 1, ¢@. The base of the 
elytra, a triangular space about the scutellum, and two spots near the 
apices of the suture of the elytra are nearly always black, but individuals 
often occur in which other elytral markings are entirely wanting. 
In the genus Cerotoma, of which trifurcata is the only American rep. 
resentative, the antennx are siender, with the first joint rather long, 
the second short, the third nearly as long as the first, the fourth shorter, 
and the fifth toeleventh joints are nearly equal. The slender tibixw are 
each provided with a single spur, and the claws are broadly appendicu- 
late at the base. 
