LEAF-BEETLES. 163 



There are still other and still smaller flea-beetles which riddle 

 the leaves of apple trees with small holes, but the damage is slight, 

 since such insects as a general rule prefer other plants for food. 



The Small Willow Flea-beetle, (Crepidodera Helxines 

 Linn.), a very common insect, eating the foliage of most of our 

 narrow-leaved willows, has been repeatedly found towards the 

 end of June engaged in doing similar work on that of the apple. 

 It is one of the most variable beetles we have, at least so far as 

 colors are concerned, and numerous varieties have been made on 

 that account. It is usually, however, of metallic green, blue, 

 coppery or golden. As a general rule all leaf-feeding beetles 

 distinguished by metallic colors vary greatly in this respect. This 

 beetle is still smaller than H. ignita mentioned before. C. ruiipes 

 Linn., illustrated in Fig. 166, gives a good idea of how such in- 

 sects look. 



Fig 166. -Crepidoc) era ru fines, Linn.- Fig. 167. — Epitrix ciuunieris, Harr — 



After Division of Entomology, U. S. After Division of Entomology, U. S. 



Department ot Agriculture. Department of Agriculture. 



A still smaller flea-beetle, the Cucumber Flea-beetle, (Epitrix 

 cucumcris Harr.), and the closely allied E. fuscula Crotch, are a 1 so 

 found eating holes in the leaves of apples. As the former one is 

 a very destructive beetle to all plants belonging to the botanical 

 order Sol&naceae, it is illustrated in Fig. 167. The name "Cu- 

 cumber Beetle" is surely a misnomer, since notwithstanding its 

 omnivorous habits it is practically confined to the above order of 

 plants. The beetles are chiefly destructive to tomatoes, potatoes, 



