50 
Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxvn, no. i 
The Biological Survey has found the Argus tortoise beetle in the stom¬ 
achs of 14 species of birds, most often in those of the starling (Sturnus 
vulgaris) and kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). 
GENERAL SUMMARY 
The foliage of sweet potato, bindweed, and morning-glory is attacked by 
the adults and larvae of the Argus tortoise beetle (Chelymorpha cassidea ). 
Reports of attack to plants other than Convolvulaceae are in the main, if 
not entirely, erroneous. 
The species has been studied in the District of Columbia. The eggs 
are deposited in clusters, varying from 16 to 28, on the lower surface of 
the leaves. They hatch in about 10 days into light yellow larvae, which 
Fig. 4. —A pateticus bracteatus, a predacious bug enemy of the Argus tortoise beetle. 
are gregarious and feed on the lower side of the foliage. In about three 
weeks they become mature and develop into similarly colored pupae, 
which in from 7 to 9 days give forth the beetle. The species is evidently 
single-brooded in the North, double-brooded southward, and in the Dis¬ 
trict of Columbia there is an exceptionally small second generation. 
The Argus tortoise beetle is seldom so abundant as to be very destruc¬ 
tive, plants readily recovering from its attack. The insect may be hand¬ 
picked in all stages and larvae and adults can be killed with arsenicals. 
literature CITED 
(1) Barber, H. S. 
1916. A REVIEW OF NORTH AMERICAN TORTOISE BEETLES. In Proc. Ent. SOC. 
Wash., v. 18, no. 2, p. 113-127, 1 pi. 
(2) Chittenden, F. H. 
1897. NOTES ON CERTAIN SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA THAT ATTACK USEFUL PLANTS. 
In U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Ent. Bui. 9, n. s., p. 20-24. 
