170 



Zoology of Colorado 



Leptinotarsa de- 

 cemlineate Woods 

 Hole. Mass. 

 Evelyn Moore del. 



Bur (Solarium rostratum), and was not thought 

 of as of any economic importance. The name 

 "decemlineata" refers to the ten black stripes 

 on the elytra. The years passed, and the far 

 west was colonized by the farmers, who planted 

 potatoes, belonging to the same botanical 

 group as the buffalo bur. The beetles soon 

 sensed the abundant supply of food, and 

 spread from field to field, even to the Atlantic 

 seaboard. They proved to be one of the 

 major pests, to be destroyed or kept in check 

 if one expected to raise potatoes. Arsenical 

 poisons were used in vast amounts, and many 

 a lad found uncongenial occupation in picking potato beetles. 

 Europe was seriously alarmed. Many European pests had 

 crossed to America, inflicting enormous damage. What if America 

 should reciprocate, and the potato beetle become established in 

 the Old World? Strenuous efforts were made to avoid such a 

 calamity, and the public press issued numerous warnings. In 

 England, where it is customary to sing in the streets, the popular 

 song of the day dealt with this topic, with the refrain: 



"You'd better mind your bread and cheese, and everything 

 you've got 



For the collar-larder beetle's come, to swallow the jolly lot!" 



Which, if it lacked refinement, was good advertising for economic 

 entomology. 



In Colorado, Leptinotarsa decemlineata is usually uncommon, 

 or at least not abundant. It is migratory, and at the end of 

 May and beginning of June, 1910, it appeared in great numbers 

 in Boulder, flying. It attacked the tomato plants in my garden, 

 but did not continue during succeeding years. At the time of the 

 World War, this beetle succeeded in getting established in France, 

 and there is reason to think that it may spread widely over 

 Europe. 



Rather closely related to the potato beetle are certain other 

 members of the family Chrysomelidae. Chrysomela means golden 

 apple in Greek, in reference to the rounded form and golden color 

 of some of the species. A good example is Chrysomela auripennis, 



