190 



THE GRAPE CULTUEIST. 



GRAPE VINE FLEA BEETLE. Haltica chalybea, 



of Illiger, Fig. 68, is a somewhat mag- 

 nified representation of a beetle which is 

 found in almost all parts of the United States, 

 on wild and cultivated grape vines. Although 

 this beetle has received the specific name of 

 chalybei, meaning steel-blue, it is exceedingly 

 Fig. 68. variable in color. " The most common tint of 

 the upper side is a glossy, deep, greenish-blue, the under 

 side is dark-green, and the antennas and feet are dull 

 black. The body is oblong oval, and the hinder part of 

 the thorax is marked with a transverse furrow. It meas- 

 ures rather more than three twentieths of an inch in length." 

 Two broods usually appear in a season the first in 

 April or May, according to location, and the second in 

 July and August. I have not heard of any section where 

 they have been very destructive, but they will probably 

 become so unless some precaution is taken against their 

 farther advance. Hand picking is the surest mode of de- 

 stroying them. It is said, however, that if a strong solu- 

 tion of potash is thrown over the vines it will destroy 

 them. I have never been troubled with them to such an 

 extent but that they could be easily gathered by hand, or 

 shaken from the vines and crushed by tne loot. 



SPOTTED PELIDNOTA. Pelidnota punctata. 



Fig. 69. This beetle is found upon 

 the grape vine in the months of July 

 and August. " It is of an oblong oval 

 shape, and about an inch long. The 

 wing-covers are tile-colored, or duH, 

 brownish yellow, with three distinct 

 black dots on each; the thorax is 

 darker and slightly bronzed, with a 

 black dot on each side ; the body beneath 



