COLEOPTERA. 581 
The One-dotted or Five-dotted Tortoise, Physonota uni- 
punctata (Phys-o-no'ta u-ni-punc-ta'ta).—The largest of our 
bright-colored tortoise-beetles is common in midsummer, 
feeding on the leaves of wild sunflower. It measures from 
three eighths to one half inch in length, and is yellow, with 
the margins whitish. On the prothorax there are five black 
dots — two close together in front, and three more widely 
separated behind. Sometimes all but one of these dots are 
wanting. It was this form that was first described, hence 
the name unipunctata. We have found the larvae abundant 
in July on the same plant with the adults. 
Most of our species of tortoise-beetles are of moderate 
size, measuring about one fourth inch or even 
less in length. These represent two genera, 
Cassida (Cas'si-da) and Coptocycla (Cop-toc'y- 
cla). These genera can be separated by the 
length of the antennas, which extend beyond Fig. 708. 
the base of the prothorax in the latter (Fig. 708), but do not 
in the former. 
The Argus-tortoise, Chelymorpha argus (Chel-y-mor'pha 
ar'gus), is a large brick-red species, which measures from 
three eighths to seven sixteenths of an inch in length, and 
has the prothorax and wing-covers marked with many black 
spots. This species feeds on milkweed ( Asclepias ). 
Family BRUCHlDiE (Bru'chi-dae). 
The Pea-weevil Family . 
These are small beetles, the larvae of which live in the 
seeds of leguminous plants. The head of the 
adult is prolonged into a broad beak ; and the 
J wing-covers are rather short, so that the tip of 
the abdomen is always exposed (Fig. 709). 
The Pea-weevil, Bruchus pisi (Bru'chus pi'si).— 
fig. 709. “ Buggy-peas ” are well known in most sections 
of our country; but just how the “ bugs ” find their way into 
