2 BULLETIN 901, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



surprised when the smaller beetle was determined as ' 'Attica chalybea 

 111., small form." When it was noted that the seasonal history and 

 habits of the typical flea-beetle conformed quite closely with those 

 usually ascribed to it, particularly by Slingerland (19) 1 and Hartzell 

 (23, 24), and that those of the "small form" coincided with the 

 discrepancies mentioned above, the writer became of the opinion that 

 two economic species had been masquerading under a single name. 

 The existence of two species instead of one had long been suspected 

 by Mr. E. A. Schwarz, who determined the reared material, but in 

 the absence of biological data which would differentiate them he 

 had not previously thought it advisable to erect a new species. 



It is obvious that the confusion of two pests that are similar but 

 have different seasonal histories may lead to a serious confusion in the 

 application of remedial measures. It is, therefore, the purpose of this 

 paper in the account of these two species, Attica chalybea 111. and A. 

 woodsi, herein described as new, to give particular attention to 

 structure and habits by which they may be distinguished. Where 

 each species must be treated separately, the typical grapevine flea- 

 beetle, being the one generally known, is first considered, and the 

 "small form" is then compared with it. The data presented are 

 based on rearing records and field observations made at North East, 

 Pa., during the seasons of 1916 and 1917 and miscellaneous field 

 observations during the two seasons previous. 2 



HISTORY. 



There are over 135 references to the grapevine flea-beetle in the 

 literature of American economic entomology, a larger number of 

 references than to any other American grape insect except the grape- 

 vine rootworm (Fidia viticida Walsh). Since 1859 there has been at 

 least one reference to it each year except during the years 1866, 1873, 

 and 1875. Most of these references no doubt apply to the typical 

 form. 



The grapevine flea-beetle was first described in 1807 by Illiger 

 (1), who named it Haltica chalybea. It was again described by Le 

 Conte (2) as Galeruca janthina and later by Thomas (3) as Chrysomela 

 vitivora. Harris (5) in 1835 placed C. vitivora Thomas as a synonym 

 of H. chalybea 111., and the same year Herrick (4) showed that 

 G. janthina Lee. was a synonym of the same species. In most of 

 the recent literature relating to this insect it has been designated 

 under the generic name Haltica. Woods (25) has recently shown 

 that the original spelling Attica should be used instead of the 

 amended form Haltica. 



1 Reference is made by number (italics) to "Literature cited," p. 26. 



2 During the season of 1916 the writer was assisted by Mr. James K. Primm. The writer is further in- 

 debted to Mr. J. H. Paine for the photographs used in Plates II and III and to Mr. H. K. Plank for the 

 photograph used in Plate IV. 



