THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



229 



Distribution.— Throughout the entire State. One of the most com- 

 inon of all field insects. 



Food Plants.— The adult beetles often become serious pests. Dur- 

 ing the past year much damage was reported in the central part of 

 the State to young alfalfa in newly mown fields. The beetles also 

 severely attack the tender foliage of citrus trees. The following other 

 plants are subject to its ravages: beets, melons, cucumbers, squashes, 

 beans, corn, cabbages, peas, zinnias, daisies, peanuts, potatoes, spinach, 

 lettuce, mustard, roses and chrysanthemums. 



Control.— It is seldom necessary to resort to control measures for the 

 larval forms, though they often do much damage. For the adults, 

 however, control measures are often urgent. Quantities of them can 

 be shaken from the trees upon a sticky or oil screen early in the 

 morning. Poison sprays applied to the tender growth are very 

 effective. 



Natural Enemies.— Two natural enemies prey upon this beetle -, one 

 a tachinid fiy, Celatoria diahroticce Shim., and the other a spider, 

 Xysticus gulosus Keys. 



THE STRIPED CUCUMBER BEETLE. 



Dialrotica vittata Fab. (Family Chrysomelidai ) . 



(Fig. 228.) 



General Appearance.— The adult beetles are small, measuring about 

 two fifths of an inch in 

 length, and half as much in 

 width. The color is yellow 

 above with black head and 

 three black longitudinal 

 stripes on the wing covers. 

 The under surface as well as 

 parts of the legs and antenna 

 are black. The larvae are very 

 small white grubs with head, 

 anal and thoracic plates 

 brown. They live in the 





h 



Fig. 228. — Striped cucumber beetle {Diahrotica 

 , . vittata Fab.), a, adult beetle; b, larva; c, pupa; 

 earth. The eggs are oval m d, egg greatlv enlarged; e, sculpture of same. 

 1 1 1, • -u^ 1 +^ All highly magnified. (After Chittenden.) 



shape and bright lemon to s ^ = 



orange in color and are laid in the soil. 



Life History.— The adult beetles hibernate over winter under rub- 

 bish or in other protected places, and emerge during the early sprmg 

 months of April and May. As soon as the host plants appear the eggs 

 are deposited in the soil around the bases and hatch in about nine days. 

 The larvge upon hatching feed at the base of the plants upon the roots 



