SMALL, ACTIVE FLEA-BEETLES INJURING FOLIAGE 157 



work gives the leaf the appearance of being shot full of small holes, 



though frequently only the upper surface is eaten off at each feeding 



place. The beetle is so 



small that its markings 



can be made out only 



under a hand lens. It 



measures one sixteenth of 



an inch long, is c|uite 



black, and has yellowish 



legs and antennae. 



The larvae are very 

 slender, tiny worms, and 

 live in the soil, feeding 

 on the roots. When nu- 

 merous on potatoes, they 

 may cause the surface of 

 the tubers to develop 

 raised spots or ''pimples." 



The adults hibernate in rubbish. Their first generation is raised 

 on weeds related to the potato, such as horse nettle and the hke. 

 There are two or three broods in a season. 



Bordeaux mixture combined with Paris green or arsenate of lead and 

 applied as a spray is the best remedy. It will drive away most of the 

 beetles, and those that remain will be poisoned. 



Fig. 162. — Potato injured by larvae of the 

 Cucumber Flea-beetle. Original. 



The Pale-striped Flea-beetle (Systena tceniata var. blanda Say) 



The common name w^ell describes this species. The adult is one 

 eighth inch long, its thorax cream colored, and its wing covers striped 

 with the same shade, alternating with yellow. 



Practically every kind of garden or field crop is attacked, including 

 sugar beets, corn, tomatoes, melons, cabbages, turnips, cotton, and 

 many others. The foliage of the plants is riddled with fine holes. 



The larvae feed on the roots of common weeds. The pest passes 

 the winter as a rule in the larval stage, the adults appearing in large 

 numbers in the early part of summer. There is one brood annually. 



