THE GRAPE-VINE FLEA-BEETLE. 



Haltica chalybea lUiger. 

 Order Coleoptera ; family Chrysomelid^. 



In general, insect enemies are 

 not a serious drawback to grape- 

 growing in New York : the vine- 

 yardist usually suffers much less 

 from their ravages than the 

 orchardist. While most of the 

 common injurious insect pests of 

 the grape-vine are to be found in 

 New York vineyards, by far the 

 larger proportion of complaints 

 of insect ravages which reach us 

 from grape-growers refer to the work of 

 the grape-vine flea-beetle. Almost every 

 year we receive several inquiries about 

 this insect, and the complaints have been 

 especially numerous during 1898. Our 

 observations and correspondence would 

 indicate that this flea-beetle has done 

 more damage in our vineyards for several 

 years past than all other insect foes com- 

 bined. Many grape-growers have awakened some 

 morning to find all of their prospective crop of 

 grapes literally "nipped in the bud" by this pest. 

 Apparently it is the worst insect pest now at 

 work in New York vineyards. Hence, it be- 

 hooves our grape-growers to familiarize them- 

 selves with this flea-beetle and its life-story. It 

 is the a,im of this bulletin to help you to do 

 this. 



II.- Grape-vine Flea- 

 beetles and their 

 grubs at work, 

 natural size. 



