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form, with shining surface, having a faint greenish-bronze luster. The 
legs are usually brownish testaceous, but somewhat variable. The 
thorax is nearly opaque, 7. ¢., it bears little trace of polish. 
~ It is known to occur in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, District 
of Columbia, North Carolina, Texas, and Colorado. 
The Spinach Flea-beetle (Disonycha ranthomelend Dalm.).—This 
species occurred in greater abundance during the spring of 1900 than 
in previous years when it was under observation, and was found during 
the latter days of May and the first part of June to have attacked and 
practically destroyed, while in the larval condition, whole rows of 
beets. The beets in one instance were not otherwise in condition, 
but other cause of injury was not observable. This appears to be the 
first instance of observed injury by this insect in the East. Observa- 
tions subsequently made showed that beets were generally affeeted in 
this vicinity by this insect, injury being due both to adults and larve. 
A new genus of food plants was observed ‘during the year, as also a 
new insect enemy of this flea-beetle. 
It was noticed of the full-grown larvee that had fed upon beets that 
all were of a brilliant purple hue never before seen in this species in 
its occurrence on its wild (green) food plants. 
Upon the occasion of a visit to Brookland, D. C., June 13, very 
noticeable injury was observed to beets, particularly on the edges of 
fields near weeds. Many plants, it was obvious at this time, would 
produce no taproots, and examination of numbers of them showed 
that this portion of the plant was entirely undeveloped. The owner 
of one of these gardens, Mr. EK. Heitmuller, was informed of the 
injury and he stated to the writer that he was quite familiar with the 
insect and its work, and said that at least an acre of seed beets had been 
totally destroyed for him the previous year. He also stated that the 
pests went below the surface of the ground and attacked the roots. 
Upon digging about the infested plants larvee and beetles were found, 
as well as upon the foliage, and this in spite of the fact that the day 
was very dark, the sun not having been visible for about two hours. 
There seems to be no doubt whatever that our informant is correct in 
his conclusions. Both larve and beetles, at times if not habitually, 
conceal themselves in the earth about the plants. It has already been 
shown that the larvee travel very slowly, and hence after devouring 
the leaves of one bunch of plants they attack the roots instead of 
migrating to other plants, a feat which they are nearly incapable of 
performing. 
In instances of insect attack to beets which have come under notice, 
this species has been associated with the twelve-spotted cucumber 
beetle, Diahrotica 12-punctata, and the pale-striped flea-beetle, Systena 
hlanda, both of which feed more freely exposed than the Disonycha 
larvee and beetles, and would attract attention when the others woulc 
