124 
COLEOPTERA. 
numbers on the leaves of plants, committing ravages, at these 
times, as extensive as those of the most destnictive caterpil¬ 
lars. This was the case in 1837 at Sevres, in France, and 
in 1838 and 1839 in Baltimore and its vicinity, where the 
elm-trees were entirely stripped of their leaves during mid¬ 
summer by swarms of the larvae of Galeruca Calmariemis; 
and, in the latter place, after the trees had begun to revive, 
and were clothed with fresh leaves, they were again attacked 
by new broods of these noxious grubs. These insects, which 
were undoubtedly introduced into America with the Euro¬ 
pean elm, are as yet unknown in the Xew England States. 
The eggs of the Galerucians are generally laid in little 
clusters or rows alono; the veins of the leaves, and those of 
the elm Galeruca are of a yellow color. The pupa state of 
some species occurs on the leaves, of others in the gi’ound ; 
and some of the larvae live also in the ground on the roots 
of plants. 
One of the most common kinds is the Galeruca vittata^^ or 
striped Galeruca, (Plate II. Fig. 3,) generally known here 
by the names of striped bug, and cucumber-beetle. This 
destructive insect is of a light-yellow color above, with a 
black head, and a broad black stripe on each wing-cover, the 
inner edge or suture of which is also black, forming a third 
narrower stripe down the middle of the back; the abdomen, 
the greater part of the fore legs, and the knees and feet of 
the other legs, are black. It is rather less than one fifth of 
an inch long. Early in the spring it devours the tender 
leaves of various plants. I have found it often on those of 
our Aronias, Amelanckier hotri/apium and ovalis^ and Pyrus 
arhutifolia^ towards the end of April. It makes its first 
appearance, on cucumber, squash, and melon vines, about 
the last of May and first of June, or as soon as the leaves 
begin to expand ; and, as several broods are produced in the 
course of the summer, it may be found at various times on 
these plants, till the latter are destroyed by frost. Great 
* Crioceris vittata of Fabricius. 
