THE HOP FLEA-BEETLE. 75 



Utah, enormously abundant on a form of hedge mustard along the 

 railroad tracks, feeding on the half-grown seeds. Single plants were 

 seen on which a double handful of beetles could be taken at one stroke 

 of the net. 



In a letter dated July 20, 1008, the E. Clemens Tlorst Company, 

 Perkins, Cal., wrote of extensive injurj'^ by this species, and as this 

 letter contains much of interest it is transcribed herewith. The 

 writer is greatl}" indebted to the same company for the excellent pho- 

 tograjihs from which the ten half-tones illustrating this article are 

 taken. 



We are extensive growers of hops on the Pacific Slope, California and Oregon, 

 and also have about 600 acres of hops in two ranches in British C'olumbia. 

 For the past three years we have been very much molested in British Columbia 

 by a variety of flea-beetle that seems to take an esi>eclal liking to hop foliage 

 and eats the young, tender shoots as they come out of the ground, and also the 

 developed and partly di>veloi)ed leaves of the vines after the same are aI)ove 

 ground. There are two other growers in the same section that were bothered 

 one or two j^ears previous to ourselves, and as they had some foreign varieties 

 of hops we at first supposed the insects had been imported from England in the 

 roots. Since, however, we have found that the same insect has been in the 

 neighborhood in very small numbers for quite a long term of years. Our crops 

 in British Columbia suffered quite a bit last season, but this year are very 

 nearly a total failure. From the one place, Chilliwack, B. C, containing 278 

 acres, we do not expect to leap a harvest of more than 600 bales, whereas we 

 should have from 2,500 to ,3.000 bales. From the other place, Agassiz, B. C, 

 we do not expect over 250 bales of hops, whereas we should have 2.2.50 to 2,700 

 bales. This will give you some idea of the inroads made by the insect and the 

 resultant loss to persons engiiged in hop growing when their yards are attacked 

 by these pests. Of course we readily understand that it would be somewhat out 

 of the ordinary for your Department to attack this problem inasmuch as it is 

 out of the United States, but inasmuch as the pests are now so numerous 

 within about 20 miles of the United States boundary and only a short distance 

 from the AVashiiigton State liopyards we believe it is well worth yoiir considera- 

 tion. Just imagine for a moment the loss that would fall to the numei'ous 

 growers of hops in the States of Washington, Oregon, or California, if this 

 pest should not be held in check, and would migrate to these sections. We have 

 definite knowledge of their already having spread as far as Sumas Junction, 

 which is on the boundary line between the United States and Canada, where 

 they are attacking cabbage, potato, beets, and other root crops, though the 

 damage done here is not nearly as bad as in the hop fields. * * * 



A badly damaged hopyard is shown in figure 13. 



During lOOS injury from the hop flea-l^eetle was reported by Mr. 

 W. W. Stockberger, of the Bureau of Plant Industry" of this Depart- 

 ment. He mentioned the cases already cited and one reported by 

 Mr. Robert ]Maitland, of Agassiz, B. C, the latter stating that the 

 ravages of this insect would almost destroy' the i^rospect for a crop 

 during the season. Mr. John Wilson, Agassiz, B. C., who complained 



76453— Bui. 6(), pt 6—00 2 



