ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY, 155 



PI). 71-92, pla. 3, figa. S). — Tlie bop rioa-beetk' li;is diiriiii; tho past .'5 yoars be- 

 come uiuisuallj' abundant, witb the result that in the Cbilliwack and Apissiz 

 Valley bop-growing regions of British Columbia it has caused the loss of about 

 80 per cent of the crop, or a cash loss estimated at not less that $125,000. 



This beetle is a native American species, quite distinct from any found on 

 hops in England or on the Continent. It is shown to be generally distributed in 

 the northern United States and southern Canada, from the Atlantic to the 

 racitic, but does not ai)i)ear to occur south of Nebraska. 



This tlea-l)eetle affects both surfaces of a leaf, gnawing through the skin and 

 devouring the pulp, usually leaving the skin on the opposite side entire ; this 

 latter becomes discolored, forming yellowish-brown freckles as the leaf grows 

 and expands, the skin at this point in time becoming torn and frequently show- 

 ing holes. When the beetle occurs in moderate numbers the leaves become rid- 

 dled as by fine shot, the punctures being most obvious after the plants have 

 made some growth. In its attack on hops it frequently causes the leaves to look 

 like a mass of network or more or less completely strips the vines of leaves. 



As in the case with tlea-beetles in general, this species does most harm to 

 young plants. The injury is most noticeable on hops, sugar beets, rhubarb, and 

 some other vegetables. Eggs, larv?e, and pup;e have been taken at a depth of 3 

 to G in. from the surface of the ground in hop fields. The larvse apparently feed 

 on the roots of hops as well as those of other plants growing in the yards. 



An account by H. J. Quayle of the life history and habits of the pest as it 

 occurs in British Columbia is presented. In that locality the beetles appear 

 very early in the spring. Those taken in mating and inclosed in vials with 

 earth at the bottom have laid eggs in from 8 to 10 days. The eggs have been 

 taken on the hop roots about 4 in. below the surface and larvfe from 2 to 4 in. 

 below the surface, both around hop roots and in the spaces between the vines 

 away from the roots. Brief notes are presented on the larval habits of the 

 American and European species of Psylliodes, and on local conditions and 

 natural influences. Methods of control are considered at some length. It is 

 said that unless the hop plants are sprayed nearly every day it is practically 

 impossible to keep them sufficiently covered with poison to entirely protect 

 from the ravages of these beetles. 



" The abundance of the beetles when they appear early in the season on young 

 plants, their constant reappearance, and the constant new growth of the plants 

 from day to day make it difficult to apply direct remedies with more than tempo- 

 rary benefit. Where the hops are sprayed with kerosene emulsion or whale-oil 

 soap for the hop aphis, the numbers of the beetles are lessened. Among meas- 

 ures which give promise of value are the institution of clean methods of culti- 

 vation, including deep fall plowing, treating hop poles in such manner as to 

 prevent the beetles from liibernating in them, and clearing all remnants from 

 fields so as to leave them as bare as possil)le to prevent the beetles from shel- 

 tering there in winter. Arsenate of lead, I'aris green, kert)sene emulsion, 

 whale-oil soap, and Bordeaux mixture should receive further tests, as should the 

 employment of trap crops in the manner advised in this article." 



A complete bibliography consisting of 12 titles, with annotations, is included. 



Report on tobacco insects, A. C, Morgan (Tennessee Sta., Rpt. Coop, and Ext. 

 ^york Afjr. Middle Trim. JH07-8, pp. 6"8-7'.i).^-This is a brief report of the inves- 

 tigations being made in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology of this 

 Department. 



The tobacco Hea-beetle i^Jpitri.r purriild) was unusually aI)Mndan( in 1!M)7, as 

 the result of the exceptional weather conditions. Through lax methods in keep- 

 ing seed lieds jtroperly covered witli canvas many l>eds were destroyed and it is 

 7.'J2— No. 2—00 5 



