The Grape-vine Flea-beetle. 191 



most recorded limits are eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska*. 

 The insect doubtless occurs in injurious numbers in most of the 

 grape-growing regions within the boundaries of this vast terri- 

 tory. Judging from the number of reports of its ravages which 

 have reached us during the past few years from the great grape- 

 growang sections of central and western New York, this flea- 

 beetle must be present in alarming numbers in these regions and 

 is apparently on the increase. 



It doubtless occurs in all parts of New York where grapes 

 grow, but its injuries are usually confined to a limited locality 

 each year. We have no report of its having been destructive 

 over an extensive area, even in the great grape-growing districts 

 of the state ; but often reports reach us where a few vines in a 

 village yard or a certain block of vines in a large vineyard are 

 stripped of their buds by the insect, while a neighbor's vines a 

 few rods away suffer verj^ little, if an^^ damage. Thus, although 

 the insect is generally distributed, its occurrence in injurious 

 numbers is usually over limited areas in New York state. 



Description of the Insect. 



This insect enemy of the grape-vine is one of that group of 

 leaf-feeding beetles known as the flea-beetles. The thighs of the 

 hind legs of these beetles are much thickened (Fig. 12 a), thus 

 fitting them for jumping quickly like fleas. The grape-vine flea- 

 beetle is a small, dark, glossy, greenish-blue or steel-blue beetle 

 measuring only from 4 to 5 mm. (a little less than one-fifth of an 

 inch) in length ; its color varies occasionally to purplish, brown- 

 ish or greenish. The beetle is shown natural size and enlarged 

 in figure 12. As it is the only small, blue beetle that occurs in 

 injurious numbers upon the grape vine, it should be a verj- easy 

 matter for the vineyardist to discover the culprit. The beetles 

 may be found at work on the vines in May and June, and again 

 in July. 



While most of the damage is done by the adult insect or beetle, 



*Mr. E. A. Schwarz writes us that "The grape-vine Haltica of the Paci- 

 fic slope and Arizona cannot possibly be Haltica chalybea, because this 

 species does not occur in the region just mentioned. It is replaced there 

 by Haltica carinata.'" 



