THE INSECT WORLD. 



185 



adopting the practice best suited to secure exemption in his case. 

 It may be added, however, that the fertiHzers will not prove satis- 

 factory unless applied as directed, — in one heavy application 

 and when the ground is bare. 



The species of the family Buprestidce resemble the click- 

 beetles in general form, but the prothorax is firmly articulated to 

 the rest of the body, so that the insects have no ''springing" 

 powers, and the colors are metallic. The beetles vary much in 

 appearance, but the larv^ae resemble each other closely, being 

 always flattened in form, with greatly enlarged anterior segments. 

 They are usually known as * * flat-headed borers, ' ' sometimes as 

 " hammer-heads," and infest not only trees but shrubs, vines, and 

 sometimes even herbaceous plants. Some of the species prefer 

 dead or dying wood, some attack healthy plants 

 only, while others, and perhaps the majority, are 

 somewhat indifferent, yet are oftener found in 

 weak than in healthy and vigorous trees. 



Our largest Eastern species belong to the 

 genus Chalcophora, the larvae mostly feeding on 

 conifers, though two of them feed on deciduous 

 trees like the sycamore. The beetles have the 

 elytra quite deeply and irregularly furrowed, while 

 the colors are bronze, brown, or blackish. I have 

 found the larvae in quite old and decaying logs, but they are said 

 to attack healthy trees as well, and to cause occasional injury. 



The genus Dicerca contains robust species, sometimes nar- 

 rowing so strongly toward the tip as to seem almost tailed 

 wing-covers are decidedly convex, irregularly corru- 

 gated, or even reticulated, with elevated spots, and 

 the colors are bright bronze-brown, often with green- 

 ish or brassy reflections. They are rarely common, 

 but infest a variety of trees, among them peach, 

 plum, apricot, cherry, hickory, oak, and pine. 



The genus Buprestis contains flattened species 

 with even striae or ridges, and they are often of a 

 brilliant blue, green, or golden metallic color, occa- 

 sionally spotted and banded with yellow or brown. 

 The larvae feed mostly in conifers, but some also infest deciduous 

 trees, none thus far in dangerous numbers. In Melajiophila the 



Chalcophora 

 giniensis. 



The 



Dicerca di- 

 varicata. 



