October, '08] JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 325 



The writer plans to prepare a careful description of this new species 

 for publication in some entomological paper. The foregoing state- 

 ments are essentially abstracts from a paper presented by the writer 

 before the Florida State Horticultural Society at Gainesville, on May 

 14, 1908. 



A FLEA-BEETLE ATTACKING HOPS IN BRITISH 



COLUMBIA 



By H. J. QuAYLE, Whittier, Cal. 



A Flea-beetle {Psylliodes punchdata Melsh), which occurs widely 

 over the northern part of the United States, but hitherto has not been, 

 apparently, a very important pest of cultivated crops, has been seri- 

 ously injuring hops in British Columbia during the past year or two. 

 The loss this year in the Chilliwack and Agassiz Valleys is estimated 

 at about 80% of the crop. 



During a brief visit to the territory in July it was the writer's 

 chief mission to find the younger stages of the insect, and the eggs, 

 larvae and pupae were consequently taken at a depth of from three to 

 six inches from the surface of the ground. The larv« feed, appar- 

 ently, on the roots of the hop as well as other plants growing in the 

 yard. But they are not restricted to the growth in hop yards, as may 

 be inferred from finding the beetles widely separated from any hop 

 vines. The adult beetle was found to feed upon the nettle, potato, 

 mangel beet, turnip, dock, lamb's quarter, pigweed and red and white 

 clover, as well as upon the foliage of the hop. There are two points 

 that militate against an effective remedy. First, the continual emerg- 

 ence of the beetle, making a contact spra^' or mechanical means of 

 capture, such as jarring, of but temporary value; and second, the 

 rapid growth of the hop vines, making frequent repetitions of a poison 

 spray necessary. 



Mr. Thomas Cunningham, the provincial fruit inspector, and Mr. 

 Charles Hayes, of the Oregon Station, are at work upon this insect, 

 and we may expect in the near future, a more complete knowledge of 

 its life historv and the remedies available for its control. 



