266 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



I have recorded having counted upwards of thirty adults, 

 besides numerous larvae on a small plant of only a few inches 

 in height. At the time of this observation, about 6 P. M., 

 very few specimens were noticed in coitu, not more than one 

 pair in a score, Some plants were completely riddled with 

 holes and undoubtedly died prematurely. They are usually 

 accompanied by the Curculionid, Cceliodes acephalus. 



Crepidodera rufipes Linn. The leaves of the common locust 

 tree, Robinia pseudacacia, constitute, in my experience, the 

 favorite food of the beetle from central New York south to 

 Virginia. It is abundant throughout the month of May. 



Systena hudsonias Forst., judging from its known food 

 habits is entitled to rank with beneficial insects. It feeds as 

 adult on field and garden weeds of many kinds, and no doubt 

 assists materially in keeping them in check. As far as I can 

 ascertain it has never been recorded as attacking cultivated 

 plants. I have observed this beetle feeding freely on the 

 following weeds : Smart- weed (Polygonum hydropiper), dock 

 (jRumex spp.), daisy {Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) , flea-bane 

 {Erigeron canadensis and philadelphicus) , plantain {Plantago 

 major and lanceolata), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisi&folia and 

 trifida), golden rod {Solidago spp.), catnip (Nepeta cataria\ 

 Brunella vulgaris, and species of vervain ( Verbena spp.). This 

 list could doubtless, with a little further observation, be greatly 

 extended. When found upon the smart-weed the little insects 

 had riddled the leaves with holes. On dock they were also 

 numerous. They choose by preference the tenderest leaves of 

 young plants, those of only a few days' growth being fre 

 quently attacked, but they infest as well plants that are more 

 mature. Their work varies much, according to the nature of 

 the plant attacked, but in general they eat out little holes here 

 and there after the manner of other flea-beetles. On warm days 

 they are quite active and voracious. The beetles abound 

 throughout the summer months and occur on a number of 

 other weeds, particularly of the Compositae, besides those men 

 tioned. I have repeatedly found stragglers on growing corn, 

 but could not discover that they had attacked the leaves. A 

 natural food plant, one of the weeds above mentioned, was 

 always sure to be found hard-by inhabited by a little colony of 

 the beetles. 



Systena frontalis Fab., occurs with 5. hudsonias on the smart- 

 weed, also on pig- weed (Chenopodium album} and other weeds, 

 but in smaller numbers. August and September. 



Odontota rubra Weber. The leaves of the basswood ( Tilia 

 americana) form the favorite food for this insect in central 

 New York. Both larvae and adults, the former mining the 



