318 MANUAL OF VEGETABLE-GARDEN IN.SECTS 



Cabbage plants are often seriously injured in the seed-bed. 

 This may be avoided by screening the beds as described for 

 the control of the cabbage root-maggot (page 35). 



References 



N. Y. (Geneva) Agr. Exp. 8ta. Bull. 113. 1896. 



Maine Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 211. 1913. 



Iowa Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 155, pp. 367-376. 1915. 



The Western Potato Flea-Beetle 



Epitrix suhscrinita Leconte 



On the Pacific Coast, the potato flea-beetle is replaced by this 

 closely related species which may be distinguished by its bronzy 



brown color (Fig. 197). It has been 

 reported from California to British 

 Columbia, where it is an important 

 pest of the potato, tomato, pepper 

 and eggplant. It also attacks the 

 bean. Among its wild food plants 

 are many common weeds. The 

 beetles spend the winter under rub- 

 bish. They appear in INIarch and 

 April, feeding at first on weeds and 

 later on cultivated crops. The larvae 

 feed on the roots and tubers of potato 

 and also bore a short distance into the latter. The full-grown 

 larva is about \ inch in length, slender, and white with a 

 brown head. In Oregon the larvae become mature in late 

 June, transform to small white pupse within earthen cells 

 early in July, and the beetles begin to emerge the latter part 

 of the month. These beetles soon lay eggs for a second brood 

 of larvse, which .pupate in September, giving rise to another 

 brood in October. i\fter feeding for a time on the foliage, 



Fig. 197. — The western po- 

 tato flea-beetle ( X 16). 



