170 



Haltica (Graptodera) chalybea. 111. (The Grape-vine Flea-beetle.) 



L Fj g- 29 -l This is the well-known little 



blue flea beetle, which infests 

 the grape-vines, feeding on the 

 buds in the earlier part of the 

 season; and when the leaves 

 have expanded transferring its 

 attacks to them. It measures 

 a little over one-eighth of an 

 inch in length, the width be- 

 ing just half the length. The 

 thorax is but little narrower 

 than the wing-cases, being 

 fully three-fourths as broad as 

 the latter; it is marked with a 

 cross furrow. It is usually 

 steel-blue, but the color varies 

 considerably, the shade of blue 

 varying from violet to deep 

 blue and even to green; the 

 antennae and feet being black 

 or blackish. 



Haltica (Graptodera) chalybea, Illiger — Grape- They pass the winter in the 

 vine flea beetle; a, grape leaf eaten by voung larva: b, kppflp Qtorp wnprpvpr thev rnn 

 larva magnified; c, earthern cell in which the insect L,cetiy bl ' llfc! wut;it;\t;r mey can 



transforms; a, beetle. find shelter in the vineyard or 



in the vicinity of grape-vines. As soon as the warmth of spring 

 arouses them to activity they commence operations on the buds, and 

 as soon as the leaves expand they deposit their minute orange-colored 

 eggs upon them. From these are hatched dark brown larvae, usually 

 in the latter part of May or early part of June. These usually feed 

 on the upper side of the leaves, which they eat into holes, com- 

 pletely riddling them when numerous. When full grown they de- 

 scend into the ground in order to undergo their transformations, the 

 second brood of beetles appearing the latter part of June or first part 

 of July. 



They feed on wild and cultivated grape-vines and the alder. 



Larva — Length 0.35 inch. Head polished black. Body livid 

 brown above, paler beneatn, sub-cylindrical, the joints bulging, 

 especially at the sides, and each divided superiorly into two transverse 

 folds, on each fold a row of six shiny, black, elevated spots, the dorsal 

 ones larger than the others, and often (especially the posterior two) 

 confluent or divided only by a very narrow dorsal line, each spot giv- 

 ing rise to a single short, stiff hair, one sub-stigmatal black spot 

 placed in middle of joint and more elongated than the rest, being 

 apparently composed of two confluent ones, as it gives rise to two 

 hairs. Three ventral spots, one anteriorlj-, which is large, transversely 

 elongate, central and without hairs, and two posteriorly, one each side, 

 which are small and piliferous; six black thoracic legs, and one anal 

 orange pro-leg. — [Riley. 



The foregoing includes all the species of this family (Chrysomclidx) 

 which are dee?ned of sufficient importance to be mentioned here on 



