INSECTS INFESTING THE POTATO. 311 



This species has done serious injury to the potato crop in 

 one county in this State. It appears in the perfect state (Fig. 

 308) and attacks the potato by feeding upon the leaves. Par- 

 ties sending specimens to me could not give any particulars 

 concerning the natural hi storey of this insect. As the speci- 

 mens sent me were from portions of the State infested by 

 grasshoppers and crickets, it may be that this species in the 

 larva state feeds upon the eggs of these pests. 



Professor Riley gives the natural history of this species, in 

 substance as follows : The female lays her eggs in the nests 

 of such locusts or grasshoppers as deposit their eggs in the 

 ground. The larvte produced from these eggs are of an 

 elongate form and provided with six legs. They at once 

 begin to feed upon the locust eggs, and at the approach of 

 Mlnter they cast their skins and appear in an entirely different 

 form, known as the semi-pupa. In the true pupa form the 

 next change results in the exclusion of the perfect insect ; but 

 in the })resent case, as soon as the skin is cast, the insect 

 appears again in the larval form. The semi-pupa differs from 

 the true pupa in lacking the wing and leg-sheaths, but, like 

 it, is incapable of moving about. It is of a pale yellow color, 

 slightly curved, and beneath the fore part of the body are six 

 short tubercles, which seem to represent the legs. In the fol- 

 lowing Spring it casts its skin and again apjjcars in the larval 

 form. Its body is now much curved, the head nearly coming 

 in contact with the tail. After attaining its full size it 

 assumes the pupa form, from which the perfect beetle issues 

 in the course of a few weeks. 



I have not found it in any locality not infested by grass- 

 hoppers, so it may be a friend as well as a foe. 



Remedy. — Use No. 103 — liquid solution preferable — and No. 

 112. 



