214 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



uring it anew in all stages, and giving sucli achice as vre maj' be able 

 in the shape of remedies. (Plato III, figs. 1, 2.) 



The grapevine flea-beotie was first described in 1807, by Karl Illlger,* 

 jQi'om specimens labeled Georgia and Pennsylvania. Its transformations 

 were first set forth by David Thomas, in Silliman's Journal, vol. xxvi, 

 from observations made in Centi-al New York. Nearly all the subse- 

 quent writers upon economic entomology have given it greater or less 

 mention. 



The greatest damage which is done by the flea-beetle is, perhaps, the 

 eating of the vine buds early in spring. The adult beetles hibernate in 

 great numbers under the rough bark of the supporting posts, under the 

 outer bark at the base of the vines themselves, in the joints of neighbor- 

 ing fences, under sticks, stones, or logs upon the ground, in any crevice, 

 in fact, which will afford them shelter. During the first warm days of the 

 spring, as the buds are beginning to swell and burst, these pests leave 

 their winter-quarters and, in the middle of the day, when the sun is 

 shining brightly, fiy or jump to the neare.^^t vine. They then gnaw un- 

 sightly holes into the opening buds, oiten boring in so far that they are 

 abnost hidden from view. In a vineyard of many acres we have seen 

 dozens of buds upon every vine thus destroyed. 



The beetle is small, measuring only from 4 to 5"^ (less than one-fifth 

 of an inch) in length. Its color is dark steel-blue, varying occasionally 

 to purplish or even brown. The characteristic which is at once noticed, 

 and which has gained it its popular name, is its power of jumping like 

 a flea. For this purpose its hind thighs are much enlarged. Like many 

 others of its family {Chrysomelidae or leaf beetles), it has the habit of 

 feigning death when disturbed, and will jump or drop from a vine upon 

 'which it is at work if the vine be shaken. After tlieir first hunger is 

 satisfied the beetles pair, and, as soon as the leaves have becojue un- 

 folded, the females begin to deposit tlieir eggs. 



The eggs, which are a long oval in shape, measure on an average .65"*" 

 (.03 inch) in length. They are straw colored, and are laid in irregular 

 clumj^s of four or five, more or less, both upon the upper and under 

 sides of the leaf. Earely a few eggs are to be found upon the unopened 

 buds, and the beetles, if caught early in the season and kept in confine- 

 ment, will oviposit r)rofasely upon any substance whatsoever. Some time 

 in May, the date varying considerably^, the young larvae hatch from the 

 eggs. They are dark brown in color, and have six large thoracic legs 

 and one anal proleg. They feed usually upon the upper side of the 

 leaf, eating irregular holes through, and gradually skeletonizing it down 

 to the main ribs. It requires, in this latitude, ti'om three weeks to a 

 month for them to attain full growth. AVith an insect which has such 

 a wide northern and southern range as this it is imiwssible to make any 

 definite statements with regard to length of stages or even number of 

 broods. As an example of this Ave may refer to the letter of Mr. W. F. 

 Parker, of Tebeauville, Ga., quoted later, wlicrein he states that the 

 young larvae were at worlc on his \dnes March 15. 



The full-grown larvae (PL III, figs. 1 and 2) are lighter in color than 

 are the young, being of a chestnut brown, and are i)aler below than above. 

 Their average length is 9""" (.354 inch). Each segment above has two 

 transverse rows of six black spots, each spot giving rise to a hair. The 

 thoracic legs are dark brown, and the anal prop leg is yellowish. When 

 they have led sufiiciently the larva© drop from the vines, and, after work- 

 ing their way for a short distance under ground (two or three inches) 

 they form a smooth cavity around themselves and transform to pui>ae. 



* 111%'f.r's Magazin fur Iriaektenliunde, vol. yi, p. 115. 



