574 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 
The Red Milkweed-beetles, Tetraopcs (Tet-ra-o'pes).— 
There are several species of bright-red beetles that are com¬ 
mon on milkweeds ( Asclepias ). These belong to the genus 
Tetraopes . Our most common species (Fig. 699) is T. tetra - 
ophthalmus (T. tet-ra-oph-thal'mus). In this species there 
are four black spots on each wing-cover, and the antennae 
are black, and not ringed with a lighter color. The larva 
bores in the roots and the lower parts of the stems of milk¬ 
weeds. 
Family CHRYSOMELIDS (Chrys-o-mel'i-das). 
The Leaf-beetles or Chrysomelids ( Chrys-o-me'lids). 
The Leaf-beetles are so called because they feed upon 
the leaves of plants both as larvae and adults. They are 
usually short-bodied, and more or less oval in outline ; the 
antennae are usually of moderate length; and the front is 
not prolonged into a beak. The legs are usually short, and 
are furnished with tarsi of the same type as those of the 
preceding family (see Fig. 689, p. 567). 
Although we are unable to cite any characteristic that 
will invariably distinguish these beetles from the preceding 
family, the student will rarely have any difficulty in making 
the distinction. The beetles of the genus Donacia, described 
below, are the only common ones that are liable to be mis¬ 
placed. In other cases the more or less oval form of the 
body, the comparatively short antennae, and the leaf-feeding 
habits will serve to distinguish the Chrysomelids. 
The Leaf beetles are nearly all comparatively small, 
the Colorado Potato-beetle being one of our larger spe¬ 
cies. 
The eggs are usually elongated and yellowish, and are 
laid upon the leaves or stems of the plants upon which the 
larvae feed. Many of the larvae live exposed on the leaves 
of plants ; others that live in similar situations cover them¬ 
selves with their excrement; some are leaf-miners; and a 
