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SCHOOL ENTOMOLOGY 



Two other species with very similar habits are the Pale- 

 striped Flea-beetle * and the Banded Flea-beetle.^ They often 

 appear in enormous numbers and seem almost omnivorous 

 in their food-habits, being particularly injurious to young 

 corn and tomatoes, but also attacking beans, beets, pota- 

 toes, egg plant, melons, crucifers, and almost all garden 

 crops. The pale-striped flea-beetle is about one-eighth inch 

 long, cream colored, with the wing-covers marked with 



FIG. 196. The pale-striped flea- 

 beetle (Systena blanda Mels.). 

 (After Chittenden, U. S. Dept. 

 Agr.) 



a, larva; b, beetle much enlarged. 



FIG. 197. The striped turnip 

 flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata 

 Fab.). (After Riley, U. S. Dept. 

 Agr.) 



a, larva; b, adult greatly enlarged. 



three stripes of light brown and the eyes and abdomen are 

 black. The banded flea-beetle is very similar, but the dark 

 stripes are expanded and darker, so that it appears to be a 

 polished black with two white stripes. Their habits and life 

 history are very similar to the preceding species so far as 

 known. They are best controlled by thoroughly spraying 

 the affected plants with Bordeaux mixture containing three 

 pounds of arsenate of lead to the barrel. Powdered arsenate 

 of lead dusted over the plants will doubtless be effective. 

 * Systena blanda Melsh f Systena tceniata Say. 



