REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 1918 59 
bilities are that many of the insects succumbed in the larval state 
since there was a considerable flight and much local injury to foliage 
in 1917. 
A judicious rotation of crops and the exercise of moderate care 
in planting corn, potatoes and other susceptible crops upon land 
badly infested by young grubs will assist greatly in avoiding injury 
in subsequent years. The marked three-year periodicity of attacks 
should be kept in mind since it is a valuable guide in anticipating 
and safeguarding against losses by these pests. 
Black flea-beetle (E pitrix cucumeris Harr.). There was 
unusual trouble from this insect, specially in the vicinity of Pough- 
keepsie, where potatoes and particularly recently transplanted 
tomatoes suffered severely. There were also reports of considerable 
damage in other parts of the State, notably in Broome, Monroe and 
Suffolk counties. This insect is one of the common garden pests 
ordinarily appearing in early spring and feeding upon a variety of 
young plants, though it displays a marked preference for potato, 
tomato and tobacco. The small beetles eat out characteristic oval 
skeletonized areas which soon turn brown and in the case of badly 
affected leaves the appearance suggests riddling with fine birdshot. 
This insect not only damages the plants but the numerous feeding 
places promote infection by blight or fungus. This latter may be 
more serious than the work of the beetle. The pest usually disappears 
before serious damage has been caused. The small black beetles, 
only about one-sixteenth of an inch long, winter in various shelters, 
feed for a time as indicated above and lay their eggs upon the roots 
of some of the common weeds. The young or grubs mine the roots 
and have been associated with “‘ pimply ”’ potatoes. 
The general habits of this insect emphasize the value of clean 
cultivation since such procedure reduces the food supply of the grubs 
and there are consequently fewer beetles another season. The out- 
break described above appeared to be rather closely related to weedy 
fields or weeds in the vicinity of the affected plants. The appearance 
of the small beetles should be a sign for thorough spraying with 
a poison such as arsenate of lead, using 2 or 3 pounds to 50 gallons 
of water and if necessary making a second application a few days 
to a week later. Paris green added to the bordeaux mixture 1s also 
an excellent preventive. Young tomato plants should not be set on 
ground where there are numerous flea-beetles without first protecting 
them by spraying or dipping in one of the poisons mentioned above. 
Dusting the plants with air slaked lime, plaster of paris, soot, coal 
ashes or even road dust affords considerable protection. 
