MISCELLANEOUS GARDEN INSECTS 403 



strawberry, cotton, oats, peanuts, pear foliage, etc., and many com- 

 mon weeds, so that it may be safely said that when abundant they 

 will attack almost any crop at hand. The species seems to occur 

 practically throughout the United States, but injury has been most 

 common in the Middle States east of the plains. 



The beetle is about one-eighth inch long, cream-colored, with 

 the wing-covers marked with three stripes of dull light-brown, 

 and the eyes and abdomen are black. A nearly related species, 

 the banded flea-beetle,* is very similar in appearance, the dark 

 stripes being expanded until it is a polished black with two 

 white stripes (Fig. 292 6) , and the two species have until recently 

 been commonly considered as identical. They are similar in life 

 history and habits so far as known, and may be considered as 

 the same for practical purposes. 



Life History. Very little is known of the life history. The 

 beetles usually appear in late June and early July, coming out in 

 enormous numbers, gnawing small holes in the foliage of the plants 

 attacked, so that when abundant they completely defoliate the 

 plant in two or three days and often necessitate replanting. Dr. 

 Chittenden has observed the eggs, which were deposited in the 

 District of Columbia from June 10th to July 8th. The egg is ellip- 

 tical, about one-fortieth inch long, and light buff-yellow in 

 color. Tlie larvae feed on the roots of various common-weeds, 

 including lambsquarter and Jamestown weed. They were 

 observed to be full grown by the middle of May in central Illinois 

 and pupated May 26th, from which beetles emerged June 17th. 

 The larva is a whitish, slender grub much like those of other flea- 

 beetles. It is about one-eighth inch long when full grown, with 

 light-brown head, and the anal segment tapers to a conspicu- 

 ous prolonged process, surmounted at the apex by a number of 

 stiff, spiny hairs. From the data recorded it would seem probable 

 that the insect winters in the larval stage on the roots of various 

 weeds and develops to the adult in early summer when the 

 eggs are laid. There seems to be no direct evidence of a second 

 generation. 



* Systena toeniata Say. 



