1196 



FAMILY Lin. CHRYSOMELIDJE. 



LVI. Phyllotheta Cliev. 1831. (Gr. ? "leaf + bore.") 



Small elongate -oval or oblon^-oval subconvex species, separated 

 from allied genera by characters pertaining to the hind tibiae as 

 mentioned in the generic key. They have the head small, deeply 

 inserted in the thorax: antennas half as long as body, or slightly 

 longer : thorax broader than long and somewhat narrowed in front : 

 elytra oval, the humeri never prominent, usually marked with a 

 yellowish Avhite sinuous stripe: first joint of hind tarsus about one- 

 third the length of tibiae and equal to the other three: claws simple. 

 The males have the last ventral more or less impressed at tip. The 

 following species have been taken or should occur in the State. 

 All feed upon cruciferous plants, both cultivated and wild: 



Fig. 526. a, Antenna of Phyttotreta alkei, male: b, P. robusta and antenna of male; c, P. sinuata and an 

 tenna of male; d, P. vittata and antenna of male; e, antenna of female of P. robusta, sinuata and vittata; f, an- 

 tenna, male and female of picta, bipwstulata, etc. (After Horn.) 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OE PHYLLOTEETA. 



a. Fifth joint of antennas longer than either the fourth or sixth; the male 

 with the fifth joint always, and sometimes the fourth, thickened and 

 elongate. 



l>. Elytra piceous. without stripes; sixth joint of male antennae as long 

 as the fourth and cylindrical. (Fig. 526, a.) elkei. 

 6&. Elytra piceous, each with a yellowish stripe. 



c. Elytral stripe narrower ; lower angle of fifth joint not prolonged. 

 d. Stripes of elytra parallel with the suture on the basal half. 

 (Fig. 526, c.) 2212. sixeata. 



dd. Stripes of elytra incurved at base, approaching the scutellum. 

 (Fig. 526. d.) 2213. vittata. 



cc. Elytral stripe broad, at its apical third reaching side, apex and 

 suture ; lower angle of fifth antennal joint distinctly prolonged. 

 (Fig. 526. It.) 2214. bobesta. 



(7(7. Fifth joint of antennae never longer than sixth; antennas not different 

 in the sexes, the joints gradually but slightly stouter from second to 

 tip. (Fig. 526. /.) 

 e. Elytra black and yellow. 



f. Elytra each with two oval yellow spots, one on humerus, the other 

 subapical. 2215. bipestelata. 



ft. Elytra dull yellow with a common sutural stripe and narrow mar- 

 ginal line, black. 2216. abmobacee. 

 ee. Elytra unicolorous. 



