THE LEAF BEETLES. 



1229 



during life, but rapidly fading after being- kept in the cabinet a 

 short time. 



The larva? are oval, flattened, prickly grubs, feeding upon the 

 surface of leaves, often in company with the adults. They occur 

 mostly upon the morning-glory, wild sweet potato and other mem- 

 bers of the Convolvulus family, and sometimes do much damage to 

 the foliage of the cultivated plants. From the rear end of the body 

 they often extrude a long forked process which is bent forward over 

 the back and to which they attach pieces of their cast-off skins and 

 excrement, thus forming a sort of parasol to protect themselves from 

 birds and other natural enemies. Of the six genera recognized from 

 the United States, four are represented in Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA GENERA OF CASSIDINI. 



a. Thorax rounded in front, head concealed. 



&. Thorax with the extreme margin thickened; form oval, convex; 

 larger, 9-11 mm. LXXVII. Physonota. 



hi). Thorax with simple flattened margins; smaller, not over 7 mm. 

 c. Antennae short, not reaching beyond the base of thorax. 



LXXVIII. Cassida. 

 cc. Antenna? longer, extending beyond the base of thorax. 



LXXIX. Coptocycla. 



aa. Thorax less rounded in front, bisinuate at base; head partially exposed; 

 larger, 9-11 mm. LXXX. Chelymorpha. 



LXXVII. Physonota Boh. 1854. (Gr., "swollen + back,") 



One large oblong-oval, strongly convex species belongs here. 



2276 (7096). Physonota unipunctata Say, Jonrn. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., 

 Ill, 1824, 434 ; ibid. II, 206. 

 Oblong-oval, convex. Pale greenish-yellow ; thorax 

 with three black dots, the middle one oblong ; apical half 

 of antennae, meso- and metasterna, and abdominal seg- 

 ments in part, black. Thorax smooth, the hind angles 

 rounded. Elytra fine, sparsely and irregularly punctate. 

 Length 9-11.5 mm. (Fig. 548.) 



Lake and Vigo counties; scarce. June 5-Au- 

 gust 14. Occurs on flowers of Crataegus, on the 

 horse-mint (Monarda) and the rosin weed (Silph- tig. 548. 

 mm), both larva? and adults feeding on the latter. 



LXXVIII. Cassida Linn. 1735. (NL, ''helmet.") 



The members of this genus are known as "helmet-beetles," the 

 word Cassida being a Latin term for helmet or shield. They are 

 oval in outline and have the head wholly concealed, the antenna^ 



