GKAPEVINE FLEA-BEETLES. 3 



In the first account of the habits of the grapevine flea-beetle, 

 Thomas recorded the destructiveness to grape buds by the adult, 

 the feeding upon leaves by the larvae, and the transformation through 

 the pupal stage in the soil. Regarding these habits there has been 

 practically no disagreement by succeeding authors. Conflicting state- 

 ments have been frequently made, however, regarding the number of 

 generations a year, the place of oviposition, and food plants. 



Harris (6) outlined the seasonal history as follows : The emergence 

 of adults from hibernation in April, followed by the development of 

 immature stages, gives rise to another brood in July that are to pass 

 through the ensuing winter. Harris called the brood of adults 

 emerging in July a "second" brood, but he clearly meant that only 

 one brood was produced annually. Harris's observations have been 

 upheld by subsequent investigations, notably those of Slingerland (19) 

 and Hartzell (23, 24), who have made the most thorough studies of 

 the insect. Kirkpatrick (9), however, says that there are several 

 generations annually, and the statement that there are two or more 

 broods has been frequently made by subsequent writers. Lowe (20) 

 states that there is a partial second brood in New York. Slingerland 

 (19) offered a reason for inferring the existence of a second brood by 

 quoting correspondence with Lowe in which the latter stated that he 

 had found a beetle of this species ovipositing as late as July 15. At 

 that time many newly transformed beetles were emerging while the 

 overwintering beetles had disappeared before the last of June. Slin- 

 gerland explained this unusual record of Lowe's as a record of an 

 exceptionally late emergence of a tardy individual. 



Riley (10) first stated that the eggs were deposited upon the leaves, 

 and for nearly 30 years this was the generally accepted belief and 

 was frequently copied by subsequent writers. Accompanying his 

 statement of the place of oviposition he describes the eggs as " orange" 

 and "like those of the potato beetle," making it seem probable that 

 he had observed the eggs of some other insect. Comstock (12), in 

 the most complete account of the insect up to that time, also stated 

 that the eggs were found upon the leaves, either on the upper or 

 lower side, and gave authority to his statement by accompanying it 

 with an accurate description of the general appearance of the egg, 

 and stated that it was "straw colored" and averaged 0.65 mm. in 

 length. Marlatt (18) also referred to them as occurring on the 

 leaves, but on the undersides only. Slingerland (19) stated that the 

 eggs were usually found in groups under bud scales and strips of 

 bark, and this observation was confirmed by Hartzell (28). Both 

 investigators state that eggs may occasionally be found on the leaves. 

 Hartzell describes the eggs as orange or saffron colored and with an 

 average length of 1.03 mm. 



