190 



THE FLEA-BEETLES. 



Halticini. 



The imjiortant corn flea-beetles have been treated on pages lOG-lll 

 of this report. In addition to these, the following species have been 

 found on corn. 



The potato flea-beetle, Epitrix cucumeris 



(Fig. 187), breeds on the roots of potato and 



tomato and of a related weed, Solanum nigrum . 



The adults feed on the leaves of potato and 



other garden plants and weeds, and have been 



seen by us on corn leaves. Professor Cyrus 



Thomas, writing of this beetle to the Prairie 



Farmer for June 22, 1878, says: "It attacks 



the corn soon after it comes out of the ground, 



riddling the leaves with minute holes. I had a 



field of corn that was considerably injured by 



them." This species is discussed in the 



Twenty-first Rejjort of this office (page 117) in connection with its 



injuries to sugar-beets. It has lately been found seriously injuring 



tobacco and petunias. 



The smartweed flea-beetle, Systena hudsonias (Fig. 188), has also 

 been treated in the article on sugar-beet insects in the Twenty-first 

 Illinois Report (p. 119). The larvae are unknown. The adults feed 



Fig. 187. The Potato 

 Flea-beetle, Epitrix cucumeris. 

 Enlarged as indicated. (Chit- 

 tenden, U. S. Dept. of .\gri- 

 culture.) 



Fig. 188. The Smartweed Flea-beetle, Sys- 

 tena hudsonias. Enlarged as indicated. 



Fio. 189. Glyptina brunnea. Enlarged as indi- 

 cated. 



