248 



INSECTS INJLKIDIS TO VEGETABLES 



be gathered also upon nearby plants of dock, and after the 

 eggs have been deposited on the dock stems these plants should 

 be pulled up and burned before the development of the adults. 

 The Rhubarb Flea-beetle (Psylliodcs punctulata Mels.).— 

 This species shows a great preference for rhubarb where ob- 

 tainable over other vegetables, among which are cucumber, 

 radish, and beet. It is dark, brassy green, and finely punctulated, 

 with its femora, tarsi, and the basal joints of antenn;e pale, 



Fig. 162.— Rhubarb curculio. a. Beetle; *, egg: c, newly-hatched larva: (Z, full-grown 

 larva: e. pupa: /.dorsal view of last abdominal segments of pupa. All about twice 

 natural size. (Author's illustration. U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



obscure yellowish. Both the upper and lower surface of leaves 

 are affected by the beetle gnawing through and devouring the 

 pulp, leaving the skin on the opposite side entire, which be- 

 comes discolored, forming yellowish brown freckles as the 

 leaf grows and expands, the skin at these points becoming in 

 time torn and showing holes. When the beetles occur in num- 

 bers leaves are sometimes riddled by these punctures. 



Remedies. — Ordinary flea-beetle remedies are recommended. 

 (See page 65.) 



