44 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I913. 



(S. Pseudo-Capsicum ) , horse nettle (S. carolinense), black or 

 common night shade {S. nigrum) egg plant {S. melongena) 

 tomato {Lyco'persicurn esculenhini) , Cayenne pepper (Capsi- 

 cum annuum\ ground cherry or husk tomato (Physalis pnhcs- 

 cens), Petunia {Petunia nyctagini flora), tobacco {Nicotiana 

 tabacum), and Jimson or Jamestown weed {Datura Stramo- 

 nium.) Of these the beetle seems to prefer above all others the 

 leaves of the wonder berry. 



It has also been recorded as feeding upon leaves of the cu- 

 cumber, sc|uash, watermelon, muskmelon, bean, corn, radish, 

 turnip, cabbage, sunflower, plantain, beet, spinach, celery, rasp- 

 berry, apple, sweet potato, rhubarb, and hop. 



In order to test the susceptibility of various plants other 

 than those of the nightshade and gourd families to the attack of 

 this insect, a number of flea-beetles, were placed in glass jars, 

 with some leaves, each jar containing but a single species of 

 plant. The beetles were collected at random from a potato 

 field and all subjected to the same conditions. It was found 

 that the leaves of the bean, sunflower, lettuce and the basswood 

 were eaten v\nth evident relish; and that the leaves of Oswega 

 tea, wood sorrel, bluets, hemp nettle, celery, beet and plantain 

 were slightly attacked. In our tests the insects refused to eat 

 the foliage of raspberry, corn, turnip, cabbage, ground ivy, red 

 clover, self heal, evening primrose, maple, dogwood, honey 

 suckle, woodbine, (Psedera), twin flower, carrot, arbutus, 

 vaccinium, viburnum, red elder, horse chestnut, dog bane, jewel 

 weed, St. John's wort, winterg'reen, violet, ilex, bedstraw, 

 pipsissewa, partridge vine, sarsaparilla, phlox, ash, sumac, and 

 shin leaf. 



It will be noted that we were unable to induce the insects to 

 eat the leaves of corn, turnip, cabbage and raspberry, upon 

 which they had previously been recorded, whije celery, beet 

 and plantain were but very slightly attacked. It must be said 

 however that in our experiments we used leaves that were full 

 grown. Had new and tender leave'; been placed in the jars the 

 results might have been difl^erent. 



CONTROL. 

 Parasites. In our own experiments with the flea-beetles we 

 have found no parasites associated with them. In looking over 

 the published accounts we find but two records in which para- 

 sites are mentioned. 



