118 
COLEOPTERA. 
body and a narrow or cylindrical thorax, and resemble very 
much some of the Lepturians, with which Linnseus included 
them. Others, and indeed the greater number, have the 
body oval, broad, and often very convex. 
The oblong leaf-beetles, called Criocerians (Crioceridid^), 
have some resemblance to the Capricorn-beetles. They are 
distinguished by the following characters. The eyes are 
prominent and nearly round; the antennae are of moderate 
length, composed of short, nearly cylindrical or beaded joints, 
and are implanted before the eyes ; the thorax is narrow and 
almost cylindrical or square; the wing-covers, taken together, 
form an oblong square, rounded behind, and much Avider 
than the thorax; and the thighs of the hind legs are often 
thickened in the middle. 
The three-lined leaf-beetle, Crioceris trilineata of Olivier,^^ 
(Fig. 53,) Avill serve to exemplify the habits of 
the greater part of the insects of this family. 
This beetle is about one quarter of an inch long, 
of a rusty buff or nankin-yellow color, with two 
black dots on the thorax, and three black stripes 
on the back, namely, one on the outer side of each 
Aving-cover, and one in the middle on the inner 
edges of the same; the antennm (except the first joint), the 
outside of the shins, and the feet are dusky. The thorax is 
abruptly narroAved or pinched in on the middle of each side. 
When held betAA^een the fingers, these insects make a creak¬ 
ing sound like the Capricorn-beetles. They appear early in 
June on the leaA^es of the potato-Aunes, haA’ing at that time 
recently come out of the ground, Avhere they pass the AA'inter 
in the pupa state. Within a feAV years, these insects haA^e 
excited some attention, on account of their prevalence in 
some parts of the country, and from a mistaken notion that 
they AA^ere the cause of the potato~rot. They eat the leaves 
[13 The genus Crioceris as now restricted contains only species indigenous to the 
o"her continent, although one of them, C. aspnragi^ has been recently introduced 
from Europe, and is found abundantly near Brooklyn, New York. The species 
above mentioned belongs to Lema. — Lec.] 
Fig 53. 
