732 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



The same remedies may be employed agaiast this aud the spotted 

 blister-beetle as suggested for the eastern species. 



Description of the Beetle.. — It difters from E. maculata in being shining black, with 

 pale-gray scalloped lines across the elytra, which unite to form about seven or eight 

 pale-gray irregular ringlets, inclosing black spots, whence the name jJrtJtZaZ/s, or leop- 

 aid-like. The thorax is black, but gray around the edges, and spotted with gray on the 

 sides and beneath. It is of the usual form, but a little shorter and stouter than E. 

 viaculata. Length, 0.45 inch. Identified by Dr. G. H. Horn. 



The Flea-Beetle, Haltlca (Epilrix) cucumeris Harris. (Plate LXVI, Fig. IS.) — 

 Eating holes in the leaves, sometimes riddling them, aud causing them to turn rust- 

 color ; minute black beetles, which on being disturbed leap otf like fleas. 



This miuute beetle not only infects the potato but also injures 

 beans, beets, tomato-plants, and especially young cucumber-vines. At- 

 tacking the leaves when small, and eating round holes in them, by their 

 numbers aud the pertinacity of their attacks they each year do much 

 harm, and certain seasons carry off whole beds of young beets aud 

 cucumber-vines, as well as seriously injure the potato-plants. The habits 

 of the young of this species are not known, but it is very probable that 

 the eggs are laid on the leaves, and that the larva? bore into and mine 

 the leaves feeding upon the pulpy substance. The larvie of other si)ecie8 

 of the genus known to have such habits are, according to Harris, "little 

 slender grubs, tapering toward each end, and provided with six legs. 

 They arrive at maturity, turn to pupaj, and then to beetles in a few 

 weeks. Hence there is a constant succession of these insects in their 

 various states throughout the summer." 



Description. — It is only one-sixteenth of an inch long, of a black color, with clay-yel- 

 low autenme aud legs, except the hindmost thighs, which are brown. The upper side 

 of the body is covered with punctures, which are arranged in rows on the wing-cases; 

 and there is a deep transverse furrow across the hinder part of the thorax. (Harris.) 



Eemedies. — Water the leaves with a solution of lime. 



The Striped Garden Bug, Lygus lineolaris (Boauvois) Uhler. (Plate LXVI, Fig. 

 14.) — Puncturing and poisoning tlie leaves of the potato and all sorts of garden- vege- 

 tables, causing them to wither and turn back ; a medium-sized bug. 



This bug is very widely disseminated, and is everywhere abundant and 

 annoying in the United States from Maine southward to Alabama, and 

 westward to Colorado and Wyoming. Uhler states that specimens were 

 collected above the timber-line in Colorado by Lieutenant Carpenter ; 

 and it occurs on the bald summits of the highest mountains in North 

 Carolina. It hibernates, aud in New England appears in April. 



Description. — Head yellowish, with three narrow, longitudinal, reddish thorax, bor- 

 dered with yellow, with five longitudinal yellow lines. The male is much darker- 

 colored ; ^ inch in length. 



Remedies. — Harris advises sprinkling the leaves with alkaline solutions, 

 such as strong soap-suds, or potash-water, or with decoctions of tobacco 

 and of walnut leaves, or of dusting the plants with air-slaked lime or 

 sulphur. 



Besides these insects the sphinx {Macrosila 5-macidata) whose horned 

 caterpillar is called the "potato-worm," and the larva of the golden- 

 helmet beetle iCaatilda aurichalcea) leed on the leaves. 



BORING THE ROOTS. 



The Potato-Stalk Weevil, Baridius trinotatiis Say. (Plate LXVI, Fig. 12; a, 

 larva; b, pupa.) — Boring into the stalks and causing them to wilt aud die; a small, 

 white, footless grub. 



This is a common insect in the Middle aud Western States, where it 

 is at times quite annoying. The female, according to Riley, deposits a 



