1228 



FAMILY LILT. CHRYSOMELIDJE. 



2274 (7082). Chalepus nervosa Panz., Ed. Voet, IV, 1798, 92. 



Elongate-oblong, nearly parallel. Color variable from nearly uniform 

 rose red to nearly piceous, with a few indistinct reddish or yellowish spots ; 

 legs pale. Vertex with a median groove. Thorax one-third wider at base 

 than apex, sides nearly straight, front angles often prominent and denti- 

 form ; disk coarsely and deeply punctured. Elytra each with three entire 

 acute costie, the first broader, and but eight rows of punctures ; margins 

 and apex serrulate. Length 3.5-4 mm. 



Throughout the State ; common. March 8-June 28. Occurs on 

 weeds and bushes of many kinds. Mating May 28. 



Charistena nigrita Oliv., rather elongate, black, with faint bluish 

 lustre, length 8.8 mm., is said to be widely distributed over the At- 

 lantic region. 



LXXVI. Stenispa Baly. 1858. (G-r., "narrow or straight. ") 



Elongate, subcylindrical, black or bluish-black species, having 

 the antennas 11- jointed, the third joint cylindrical, nearly as long 

 as the first two; 4 to 10 subequal, 11th longer and subacute at tip; 

 front concave with a carina between the antennae; thorax quadrate; 

 tarsi dilated, densely pubescent beneath, first joint triangular, third 

 deeply bilobed; tarsal claws divaricate. One of the two species has 

 been taken in the State, while the other may occur. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF STENISPA. 



«. Black with a slight bronze tinge. 2275. metallica. 



aa. Black with a bluish tinge ; thorax red. collaeis. 



2275 (7093). Stenispa metallica Fabr., Syst. Eleut, II, 1801, 66. 



Elongate, subcylindrical. Uniform black, shining, with a slight bronzed 

 tinge. Thorax a little longer than wide, sides nearly straight, feebly curved 

 near front angles ; surface very sparsely and finely punctate. Elytra slightly 

 wider than thorax, each with ten entire rows and a scutellar row of rather 

 fine punctures. Length 5-6 mm, 



Throughout the State; frequent. April 29- July 28. Occurs 

 on grasses and sedges in moist meadows. 



S. collaris Baly, length 6.5-7 mm., was described from Okla- 

 homa. 



Tribe XII. CASSIDINI. 



Small or medium-sized, oval or circular, usually subdepressed 

 beetles, having the margins of the thorax and elytra expanded and 

 flattened, beneath which the head and legs are retractile so as to be 

 almost wholly concealed in repose. On account of their form they 

 are often called "tortoise" or "turtle-beetles," and are for the most 

 part very prettily colored, sometimes being bright golden in hue 



