INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



285 



usually shiny black with two distinct longitudinal while stripes on the 

 elytra. 



Life History. — The life history of this species is no1 recorded, but it 

 probably resembles that of the other flea-beetles described. 



Nature of Work. — The beetles eat small holes into the leaves, reduc- 

 ing them to skeletons or causing them to appear sieve-like. Much injury 

 is done if the species becomes abundant. 



Distribution. — The banded flea-beetle 

 occurs throughout the State. 



Food Plants. — Bea u, beet, grass and 

 other plants are attacked by this beetle. 



Control. — The control is practically the 

 same as for the potato flea-beetle. Epitrix 

 cucumeris Harris. 



THE PALE-STRIPED FLEA-BEETLE 

 Systena blanda Melsheimer 



Description. — The adults are cream- 

 colored with the abdomen and eyes black 

 and the wing covers marked with one 

 broad median and two narrow marginal 

 light brown stripes, which may be en- 

 tirely wanting in some individuals. The 

 head is reddish and the antennas and 

 legs are marked with light brown. The 

 length is ^ inch, width .^ inch. The eggs 



arc elliptical, two and one half times as long as wide, light buff-yellow, 

 surface finely granulated or sculptured and about 1-40 inch long. 

 The larvae are slender, white, with pale brownish or amber head and 

 legs. The anal segment tapers into a prolonged process or tubercle. 

 The body is moderately hairy. The mature larva? are | inch long and 

 one seventh as wide. The pupae are light brown and about as large 

 as the beetles. 



Life History. — The adults hibernate in rubbish or other sheltered 

 places and emerge early in the spring. The eggs are laid singly or in 

 small masses of three or four upon the leaves, in May, June and July. 

 They are attached by the sides. The larva? feed underground upon 

 the roots, while the adults feed upon the leaves. There are probably 

 tw T o broods a year. 



Nature of Work. — As previously stated, the larva' teed upon the 

 roots, while the adults eat small circular or irregular holes in the 

 leaves. 



Distribution.— This species occurs in California."" but its exact dis- 

 tribution is not w T ell known. 



Food Plants. — The adults, especially, are very destructive 202 to 



plants. The following hosts are reported: wornrw I (Ambrosia 



artemisimfolia) , bean (bush and lima), beet, carrot, clover, cockle bur, 

 corn, cotton, eggplant, jimpson weed, lambsquarters, muskmelon, 



Fig. 2 7 s. — Handed (lea-beetles. 

 Systena twniata ligata Lee. at the 

 left and Systena twniata ochracea 



Lee. at right. Enlarged four times. 

 Specimens received from Dr. E. C. 

 Van Dyke. ( Original ) 



-"'Bui. No. 23, n. s. Bur. Ent. IT. S. Dept. Agric., p. 24, L900. 

 ="-Bul. No. 23, n. s., Bur. Ent., IT. S. Dept. Agric, p. 24. 1! 



