physonota

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An American genus of leaf-beetles or chrysomelids, with about 50 species, characterized by having the third antennal joint longer than the second, and the fourth equal to the third. P. unipunctata, var. quinquepunctata, is the so-called five-spotted tortoise-beetle, whose larva has'20 smooth spines and feeds on the leaves of sunflowers.