16 The Bulletin. 



FLEA BEETLES. 



(Several Species.) 

 Order Coleoptera, Family Chrysomelidce. 



Description. — Very small beetles of black or brownish color, often 

 marked with stripes, which eat sitmll holes in the leaves. The hind legs 

 are enlarged and enable the beetle to jump quickly and for considerable 

 distance, hence the name of "flea beetle." 



Injury. — There has been very littl ; complaint of injury to cabbage by 

 flea beetles in iSTorth Carolina, although such injury may be observed 

 in almost any cabbage field, especially in spring. There are several 

 different species of flea beetles of various crh'rs, but the one* most fre- 

 quently seen on cabbage, turnips and related crops is black with a light 

 colored stripe down each wing cover. 



Although the injury by flea beetles i= aot usually conspicuous it may 

 be serious nevertheless, for even a very small hole in the leaf may cause 

 considerable drying out or loss of sap, and it may also furnish an op- 

 portunity for the entrance of fungous diseases. 



Life History and Habits. — Flea beetles are all closely alike in the 

 general features of their life history. As a rule the adult flea beetle 

 lays its eggs at or near the roots of the plants which they attack, 

 and the grubs (larvae) which hatch from the eggs feed on the roots 

 below the surface of the soil. With some kinds of flea beetles, however, 

 the larvae burrow within the leaves of plants. When the grub, or larva, 

 becomes grown it changes to a pupa, still in the soil, and in a few 

 weeks this pupa changes to the adult beetle which comes out, jumps 

 about, or flies, feeds on the leaves and lays eggs for another brood. The 

 winter is usually passed in the adult flea beetle stage under rubbish 

 on the ground and like situations. 



When feeding or resting on a leaf, a flea beetle always seems to have 

 his legs prepared for a leap into the air. When touched, it leaps so 

 quickly that its motion, together with its small size, causes it to really 

 disappear instantly from sight. 



Natural Enemies. — We know but little about natural enemies of flea 

 beetles. They almost certainly are attacked by some kinds of parasites, 

 and possibly small birds like sparrows would pick a few of them off the 

 cabbage plants, but our information is not very definite or satisfactory. 



REMEDIES. 



Dusting the plants with lime and Paris green, or applying Paris green 

 as a spray, as recommended for cabbage worms (page 27) should be 

 sufficient to prevent serious damage by flea beetles. Dusting with lime 

 alone, road dust or soot have all been suggested for the control of flea 

 beetles, as they seem to dislike the presence of such substances on the 

 leaves. 



On the whole, we do not consider the flea beetle as a serious pest to our 

 cabbage growers. 



'Phyllolreta tittat .= 



