264 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



generation, the adults of which appear in October. After a short 

 feeding period these go into hibernation and appear early the next 

 spring. There are two generations a year. 



Nature of Work.— The adults w r ork upon the foliage, being gen- 

 erally more abundant upon the under sides of the leaves. They eat 

 small circular or irregular holes through the leaves and often attack 

 the young plants just as they are coming up and do much damage at 



Fig. 256. — Glyptina cerina Lee. Adults and their work on potato 

 leaves. Enlarged one and one half times. (Original) 



that time. The larvse work underground and feed upon the roots of 

 various plants. They also make shallow tunnels into potato tubers, 

 causing them to appear rough and rendering them unfit for market. 

 Most of the injury is done in July and August, when the beetles become 

 very plentiful. 



Distribution.— This beetle is apparently quite widely distributed 

 throughout the State and Pacific Coast region. 



Food Plants.— Like many of the other flea-beetles, this species is 

 quite a general feeder, having been observed upon the following plants : 

 potato, tomato and bean. Many other crops and weeds are also sub- 

 ject to attacks. 



Control. — Control measures are the same as for the potato flea- 

 beetle, Epitrix citcumcris Harr. 



THE ALDER FLEA-BEETLE 



Haltica bimarginata Say 

 (Halticn alni Harris) 



(Fig. 257) 



Description.— The beetles are deep metallic blue, green or purplish. 

 The body, legs and antenna? are dark, or same as the dorsum. The fine 



