CHRYSOMELIDiE. 
363 
Hispince .—Cryptostome beetles, in which the antennae are set 
closely together on the front of the head, but without the produced 
Fig. 238.— Gonofhora 
BENGALEE SIS. 
Fig. 239.—Hispa jenescens, x 7. 
prothorax covering the head, which characterises the next sub-family. 
These beetles have a characteristic facies of their own, being 
usually flattened, the sides of the elytra parallel, the prothorax narrow, 
the integument either much pitted in lines or with regularly arranged 
spines. The antennae project in front of the small head ; the legs are 
short, the elytra often have truncate ends. The colouring is varied, 
browns, metallic blacks and occasionally brighter metallic tints predo¬ 
minating. Some species are evidently cryptically formed and coloured, 
escaping notice when resting motionless on a young leaf tightly pressed 
to the surface. 
The life-history of several species in India has been worked out 
(Plate XXIII). The essential features are that the egg is laid 
in the tissues of a leaf or plant, the resulting grub mining in the tissues, 
and producing a ‘ ‘ blotch ’ ’ mine. Moults take place inside the mine 
and the larva is much flattened, though in some cases provided with 
legs. Pupation takes place in the leaf. The beetles are similar in 
appearance in both sexes. So far as known, all Hisfince have such a life- 
history and the larva lives concealed in the tissues of plants. Hiber¬ 
nation and other periods of rest take place in the imago state. 
