THE WESTERN CABBAGE FLEA-BEETLE. 7 



covering. During the same year further injuries were reported to 

 turnip, mustard, and radish at Amarillo, Tex. ; to radish at Sheridan 

 Lake, Colo., and to radish and turnip at Albert, Union Co., N. Mex. Of 

 the last occurrence our correspondent wrote, "we can not raise these 

 crops for the flea eats them as soon as they come through the soil." 

 It was also injurious to cabbage, turnip, mustard, and radish at Tucum- 

 cari, N. Mex., and to radish at Thermal, Calif. 



During 1914 Mr. F. B. Milliken reported this species attacking 

 Lepidium pubecarpum at Garden City, Kans. He also observed 

 larvae from which the beetle was reared, May 17. 



During 1915 this species was reported injurious to cabbage at 

 Chico, N. Mex.; in 1916 to radish and cabbage at Fort Stanton, 

 N. Mex.; and in 1917 to turnip, radish, and tomato at Golden, Colo. 



During 1919 this species was apparently rare, having been reported 

 in only four localities. At Brownsville, Tex., Mr. High found it 

 attacking crucifers, and Mr. C. F. Stahl, Bureau of Entomology, 

 collected specimens at Riverside, Calif., June 10 and July 14 on corn 

 leaves. During July it made its appearance in injurious numbers 

 at Lake Valley, N. Mex., where it was reported by Mr. John Avirette, 

 attacking mustard, radish, and cabbage in the order named. He 

 stated that without constant spraying with arsenicals these crops 

 would all be ruined. August 26 of the same year Mr. A. E. Mallory, 

 Bureau of Entomology, observed this species in moderate number 

 on turnip. 



July 16, 1920, Mr. D. J. Balagna, a grower and shipper of vegeta- 

 bles, Florence, Colo., wrote that this beetle was "destroying the entire 

 valley," and unless something was done promptly, cabbage, cauli- 

 flower, and all related vegetables would be destroyed. Our corre- 

 spondent had tried nicotine sulphate, coal oil and soap, arsenate of 

 lead, salt water, lime, and Paris green, but found nothing that would 



kill it. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



The western cabbage flea-beetle, although normally an enemy of 

 cruciferous plants, frequently does much injury to sugar beets and 

 other vegetable crops. Turnip (Brassica rapa), mustard (B. spp.), 

 and radish (Raphanus spp.) are decidedly the favorite food plants. 

 The beetles also attack horse-radish (Radicula armoracia), rape 

 (Brassica napus), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), cauliflower (B. 

 oleracea var. botrytis), water cress (Radicula nasturtium-aquaticum, 

 Roripa nasturtium), Chinese mustard or pe-tsai (Brassica juncea), 

 nasturtium, bee-plant (Cleome serrulata), sweet alyssum (Alyssum 

 maritimum), candytuft (Iberis spp.), wild peppergrass (Lepidium 

 pubecarpum, L. virginicum, et al.), hedge mustard (Sisymbrium spp.), 

 wild water cress (Roripa sinuata and R. spliaerocarpa), and tansy 

 mustard (Sophia pinnata). All of these are normal food plants. 



