G 



CHBTS0J4ELINJE. 



Pupation takes place either in the soil, or on the ground under 

 dead leaves, etc., or in some cases on the plant ; and in some 

 species at least the hind end of the pupa is surrounded by the 

 last larval skin. Some species are viviparous, the adults pro- 

 ducing living larvae instead of eggs. The larvae of some species 

 possess extrusible vesicles or processes which they protrude when 

 irritated. In certain species the larvae are heavily parasitized, 

 e.g. the European Paraph aedon tmnidulus by the Tachinid fly 

 Meigenia. According to Westwood (Introd. i, p. 389, 1839) the 

 larvae of some members of this subfamily feed socially, a number 

 together on the food-plant, adopting an orderly arrangement. 

 A considerable amount has been written concerning the early 

 stages and biology of a number of species, and notes on several 

 different forms are given below, insects other than Indian being 

 included (as in the volume on IlisPiNiE) to render this section 

 more full.* 



Fig. 5. — Chri/somela populi, L. Side view of larva : the line- shaded areas 

 represent strongly chitinized parts ; s., spiracles; o.g., openings of odori- 

 ferous glands. 



India. 



Chrysornela \_Melasoma~] populi, L. t (See 'Indian Museum 

 Notes,' vol. iii, no. o, 1894, p. 43.) 



Larvae of this beetle were found on the 9th June, 1893, in 

 Deoband, 9000 feet above sea-level in the North-west Himalayas ; 

 whether in this case the food-plant was poplar is not stated. 

 They ranged from 0*10 inch to 0*51 inch (nearly 3 to 13 mm.) 



* [Among comparatively recent illustrations of the larvae and 'pupa? of 

 European species may be mentioned the following in Eeitter, 'Fauna 

 Germanica; Eater,' vol. iv, 1912 : Gastroidea. poli/goni, pi. 144, fig. 9 ; Plagiodera 

 versicolor and Melasoma, tremulce, pi. 146, figs. 9-16. — Eds. J 



t See also K. W. Verhoeff, " Ueber die Organisation und Entwicklung der 

 Chrvsomeliden Melasoma populi unci Thyllodecta vitellines": Arch. Naturg. 

 (Berlin), lxxxiii, Abt. A, Heft 4 (1917). pp. 142-173, 1 pi, 1919. 



