THE WESTERN CABBAGE FLEA-BEETLE. 



In 1897 specimens were received, July 10, from Mr. D. A. Pierce, 

 Kennedy, Nebr., with the statement that the species had destroyed 

 between 10 and 20 acres of corn in 24 hours. They were said to 

 destroy everything in gardens. They came in swarms of black clouds 

 and covered the plants. Later in the month Mr. Benj. F. Henry, 

 Hill City, S. Dak., complained of a "flea" — a name commonly applied 

 by farmers to flea-beetles — that was troublesome on cabbage and 

 other cruciferous crops in his vicinity. Only a single grower in his 

 neighborhood had saved any cabbage, all others having given up the 

 fight against this flea-beetle. In addition to cabbage this species was 

 injurious to radish, horse-radish, and turnip, and was stated also to 

 injure peas. On the last-mentioned plant it ate the lower leaves 

 or lower part of the stalk. Out of 1,000 good cabbage plants our 

 correspondent saved only a hundred. The beetles seemed to prefer 

 the younger plants, but thrived also upon the older ones. A neighbor 

 of our correspondent reported that he had not raised a turnip for 

 seven years on account of this insect. It was prevalent in injurious 

 abundance throughout the region of the Black Hills. The beetles 

 were first noticed the last week of June, and seemed to disappear 

 toward the end of July. 



In 1904, during the first week of June, this species was observed 

 by Prof. E. G. Titus, at Paonia, Fort Collins, and Longmont, Colo., 

 and at Blackfoot, Idaho, June 22, attacking sugar beet. May 19, 

 25 acres of sugar beets were reported destroyed to date by this beetle 

 at Grand Junction, Colo. 



In 1906, Miss Hannah Carr, Mineral Hill, N. Mex., wrote January 

 1 1 of this insect destroying crops in that locality, particularly turnips, 

 beans, and cabbage. From an acre of turnips only a few pounds of 

 the vegetable were obtained. The same. year complaints of injury 

 to cabbage, radish, and nasturtium were received from Mr. Nathan 

 Hall, Socorro, N, Mex. 



The year 1908 witnessed severe outbreaks of this pest. April 24 

 Miss Margaret Botchleott, Grady, N. Mex., sent specimens with com- 

 plaint of injury to garden plants. At Chico, N. Mex., it was injurious 

 to cabbage. January 22, Mr. D. K. McMillan observed many beetles 

 on turnip at Corpus Christi, Tex. The same year the species was 

 received April 27, and later, from Mr. C. A. Pugh, Verne, Okla., 

 where the beetle was reported to be injuring garden truck generally. 

 June 4 Mrs. Frank Perron, Hurley, Tex., sent specimens with report 

 that the beetles were entirely destroying radish and cabbage crops 

 in the Coldun Tract in the panhandle of Texas. Mr. A. Olson, 

 Blacktower, Roosevelt Co., N. Mex., October 25, writing of this 

 species as the "garden flea" stated that it was generally found on 

 radish, beet, lettuce, and in fact on almost all kinds of plants when 

 they first come up. The insect perforates the small plants with 

 holes and eats the substance until they die. The beetles were very 



