580 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 
feed externally upon leaves and bear a parasol composed of 
their excrement; other species are leaf-miners. Odontota 
- rubra (Od-on-to'ta ru'bra) is a good repre- 
'"l V f sentative of this group (Fig. 707). It varies 
in length from one eighth to one fifth of an 
inch. It is of a reddish color, with the 
elevated portions of the elytra more or less 
spotted with black. The larva mines in the 
Fig.707. leaves of apple, forming a blotch-mine; the 
transformations are undergone within the mine. We have 
also found this species mining the leaves of basswood in 
great numbers. 
The Tortoise-beetles .—Among the more beautiful Coleop- 
tera are certain bright, golden, green, or iridescent beetles 
found on the leaves of sweet-potato, morning-glory, nettle, 
and other plants. In these beetles the body is flattened 
below and convex above ; the head is nearly or quite con¬ 
cealed beneath the prothorax; and the margins of the 
prothorax and elytra are broadly expanded, forming an 
approximately circular or oval outline, and suggesting a 
resemblance to the shell of a tortoise. Not all of the 
species are iridescent; and in the case of those that are, 
the brightness of the colors are said to depend on the 
emotions of the insect. What a beautiful way to express 
one’s feelings—to be able to glow like melted gold when one 
is happy! Unfortunately for the beauty of our collections, 
these bright colors disappear after the death of the insect. 
The larvae of the tortoise-beetles are flattened, and have 
the margin of the body fringed with spines. At the caudal 
end of the body there is a forked appendage which serves 
a very strange purpose. This fork is bent forward over the 
back, and to it are attached the cast-off skins of the larva and 
its excrement; these constitute a parasol. When about to 
change to the pupa state these larvae fasten the caudal end of 
the body to the under side of a leaf; the skin then splits open, 
and is forced back to this end of the body, where it remains. 
i 
