CHEYSOMELIDJE. 



181 



4. Trichostomes. — In these are included the Galerucinje and 

 Halticinte, which differ extremely in form, but have several 

 characters in common. The latter family have strong leaping 

 powers, owing to their thickened femora, and are therefore very- 

 active, while the G-aleruciisle are softer and feebler, with slender 

 and weak legs. Some of the quite minute Halticlsle are very 

 destructive to certain kiuds of vegetation. This new group does 

 not seem to have a very definite value. 



5. Cryptostomes. — This group consists of the Hispiioe and 

 Cassidin^, both of which are in many cases very remarkable for 

 their general appearance. The species of Hispa are for the most 

 part covered with long, upright, coarse spines ; while the Cassi- 

 diios, or tortoise-beetles, although variable in shape, are all 



provided with more or less pronounced ex- 

 panded margins, beneath which the body and 

 head are completely hidden ; their outline 

 varies in shape, but they are usually more or 

 less circular or shield-shaped, and often hemi- 

 spherical or sub-hemispherical. Many of the 

 species are remarkable for their brilliant 

 metallic colours in life, which unfortunately 

 fade very quickly after death ; some of the 

 Indian species are very beautiful, and if kept 

 in glycerine or spirits of wine will retain their 

 colour for a considerable period. 



The life-history of Hispa testacea is given 

 fully by Chapuis (Genera des Oole'opteres, xi, 

 p. 259), and is quoted by Sharp (Cambridge 

 Natural History, vi, p. 283). The larva mines the leaves of Oistus 

 salvifolius in Southern Europe and feeds on the parenchyma of 

 the leaf, which it only ruptures when it w ? ants to remove to a 

 fresh leaf ; it is a broad and flat insect with short legs. 



Fig. 83.— Botryo- 

 nopa sh&ppardi. 



The larvae of the Cassidi?s t .e are remarkable for their habit of 



Fig. 84. — Cassida miliar is (varieties). 



covering themselves with a coating of excrement, which, however, 

 is not free as in the Crtocerix.e, but is, in nearly all cases, 

 supported by a forked appendage arising from the apex of the 



i 



