21 



substance of the under side of the leaf, leavino; the upper surface unbroken, but as they 

 increase in size they devour the entire leaf. When not eating they lie closely together 

 on the twigs, and sometimes entirely cover the branches they rest on ; they attain their 

 full growth during August or early in September. When mature the larva presents 



the appearance shown in fig. 6. The head is coral 

 red, and there is a lump on the back on the fourth 

 segment of the same color. The body is traced 

 lengthwise by lines of black, yellow and white, and 

 has two rows of black spines along the back, and 

 other shorter ones upon the sides, from each of which 

 there arises a fine hair. The hinder segments taper 

 Fig. 6. a little and are always elevated, as shown in the 



figure, when the insect is not crawling. It measures 

 -when full grown about one and a quarter inches long. , 



They entirely consume the leaves of the branch on which they are placed, and when 

 these furnish insufficient food to bring them to maturity, the adjoining branches are laid 

 tinder tribute. When handled they discharge from their bodies a transparent fluid with a 

 strong acid smell, which doubtless serves as a defence from their enemies, especially 

 birds, since their habit of feeding openly in large flocks renders them particularly liable 

 to attack from these active foes. 



When full grown they all disappear about the same time, descending 

 from the trees to the ground, where they conceal themselves under leaves 

 upon or slightly under the earth. Here, after a long time, the larva 

 changes to a brown chrysalis, fig. 7, and remains in this condition until late 

 Fig. 7. in June or early in July of the following season. They are very generally 

 -distributed, but seldom abundant, and while very partial to the leaves of the apple tree, 

 feed also on those of the plum, pear, cherry, rose, and thorn. 



As they feed in flocks during their entire existence, these larvse can easily be 

 gathered and destroyed, either by cutting ofi" the limbs on which they are feeding and 

 burning them, or by dislodging them by suddenly jarring the limbs, when the larvse fall 

 to the ground and may be trampled under foot. 



The Eyed Elater (Alaus oculatus). 



This is the largest of our Elaters or ''spring beetles," and is found with its larva in 

 "the decaying wood of old apple and other trees. The beetle, fig. 8, is about an inch and 

 a half — sometimes more — in length, of a black colour, sprinkled 

 with numerous whitish dots. On the thorax there are two large 

 velvety black eye-like spots, from which has arisen the common 

 name of the insect. The thorax is about one-third the length of 

 the body, and is powdered with whitish ; the wing cases are ridged 

 with longitudinal lines, and the under side of the body and legs 

 thickly powdered with white. It is found in the perfect state in 

 J une and J uly ; is active in the daytime, flying about with a loud 

 buzzing noise. 



The mature larva, which attains its full growth early in April, 

 is about two and a half inches long, nearly four-tenths of an inch 

 across about the middle, tapering slightly towards each extremity. 

 The head is broad, brownish, and rough above ; the jaws very strong, 

 curved and pointed ; the terminal segment of the body blackish. 

 Fig. 8. roughened with small pointed tubercles, with a deep semicircular 



notch at the end, armed at the sides with small teeth, the two hindermost of which are 

 long, forked, and curved upwards like hooks. Under this hinder segment is a large, 

 ^eshy foot, armed behind with little claws, and around the sides with short spines ; it 

 lias six true legs, a pair under each of the first three segments. Early in spring the 

 larva casts its skin and becomes a chrysalis, and in due time emerges a perfect beetle. 

 This beetle, when placed upon its back on a flat surface, has the power of springing 



