FLEA-BEETLES, 



323 



The Red-Headed Flea-Beetle 



Systena frontalis Fabricius 



'^'t.^. 



This species closely resembles the smartweed flea-beetle 

 from which it may be distinguished by its reddish head (Fig, 

 202). It ranges throughout the 

 United States and Canada east of 

 the Rockies and south to Florida. 

 Outbreaks of this beetle are usually 

 more or less local but serious injury 

 may sometimes result. It attacks 

 potato, beet and bean, and in 

 Canada is sometimes destructive 

 to the second crop of clover. 

 Young grape vines are occasionally 

 nearly defoliated by the beetles. 

 They have also been known to 

 attack cranberry, rose mallow, 

 marsh mallow, Japanese honey- 

 suckle, weigela, aster and chrysanthemum. Among weeds 

 they are known to feed on smartweed, lamb's quarters and 

 pigweed. 



The beetles have been found hibernating under the loose 

 bark of trees and in mullein rosettes. The early stages have 

 not been described. 



Fig. 



202. — The red -headed 

 flea-beetle (X 8). 



The Smartweed Flea-Beetle 



Systena hudsonias Forster 



This elongate bluish black flea-beetle is generally distributed 

 throughout the United States and Canada east of the Rocky 

 Mountains where it has been recorded as injurious to potato, 

 bean, corn, beet and cabbage plants in the seed-bed. It has 



