Ill 



other groups of higher animals, together with a discussion of the 

 rules and principles which govern in the formation of compound names 

 of animals. 



In closing allow me to suggest the appointment of a committee b}^ 

 this bod}^ to whom the whole subject of vernacular names of insects 

 shall be referred and reported on one year hence. 



NOTES ON THE LARGER SUGAR-BEET LEAF-BEETLE. 



( Moiioxia pimcticollis Say. ) - ■ — ' 



By F. H. Chittenden, Washington, D. C. 



Since the publication of a note by the writer in Bulletin No. 18 of 

 the present series, page 95, we have obtained additional specimens of 

 this leaf -beetle, together with an account of its injuries in Colorado. 



During May, 1902, living beetles were received with report that the 

 species was destroying 3^oung beet plants at Rockyford, Colo. Our 

 correspondent, Mr. W. K. Winterhalter, who furnished this informa- 

 tion, stated May 7 that where the beetles had appeared they kept the 

 leaves eaten down to a stage where the beet was unable to make any 

 growth. They were most numerous on very warm, loose land, rich 

 in lime, and a rapid increase under the then favorable climatic condi- 

 tions was anticipated. They were quite gregarious, occurring "in 

 swarms like blister beetles." May 21 our correspondent again sent 

 beetles, with eggs and half -grown larvffi, stating that while the beetles 

 had not done extensive damage the}^ had prevented beets from grow- 

 ing in quite a few fields through their continual inroads on the foliage. 

 In one instance 5 acres had ^ff be replanted. After the beets were 

 irrigated they grew more rapidh" and thus kept ahead of the beetles, 

 and serious damage was apparently averted for that season. 



The receipt of this material enabled a study of the egg and larva, 

 and the following descriptions of the stages, except the pupa, which 

 is as 3^et unknown, are presented: 



The eggs are rounded oval, somewhat variable in form, but averag- 

 ing about 0.9 mm. in length and 0.7 mm. in width. They are strongl^^ 

 convex above and modei'ately flattened where attached to leaves. In 

 the egg masses received there was an average of about 20 eggs in each 

 cluster. They were deposited closely together, as shown in figure 3, h. 

 The color of the individual egg is dull brownish gray, and the areas as 

 seen through a lens are strongly indicated, a septagonal arrangement 

 predominating, although hexagons also occur. It will be noted that 

 although this species is related to ithe imported elm leaf -beetle ( Galeru- 

 cella luteola), the eggs and their manner of deposit is decidedly" differ- 

 ent, those of the latter insect being placed on end. 



