The Biology of Maine Species of Altica. 153 



discussed above, and is probably a new species, although it 

 appears to belong to this same group. Most of the references 

 in economic literature to carinata Germ, should be to ignita 111., 

 and indeed the references to these two species are for the most 

 part so vague that it is impossible to determine to what species 

 they do refer. In the comparatively few instances in which the 

 writer has felt sure that reference was made to one of the 3 

 species he has described as new, he has included these articles 

 under the bibliography of that species. 



Specimens of corni and ulmi submitted to Mr. C. W. Leng 

 of New York City were reported as unquestionably ignita 111. 

 according to Horn's monograph. 



The remaining species treated in this bulletin is the blue- 

 berry flea-beetle, A. torquata Le C, a member of the carinata 

 group. It differs but slightly from the typical carinata Germ, 

 as described by Horn, and is possibly identical with it. How- 

 ever since the life history of torquata differs from that of a 

 typical Altica in that it hibernates as an egg and not as an adult, 

 and since neither the life history of carinata nor its range of 

 food plants is known, it seems better to the writer to run the 

 risk of unwarrantably restoring a synonym than possibly to 

 confuse this species with carinata Germ, if the 2 be distinct. 

 This beetle, which is very injurious on the. blueberry barrens in 

 years when it is abundant, was determined for the writer by 

 Mr. C. W. Leng of New York City. 



Definition of the Terms Used in the Descriptions. 



Alutaceous: covered with minute cracks, like the human skin. 



Ante-basal groove or impression : an impressed transverse line which 

 may be either deep or shallow, extending entirely or partially across 

 the prothorax slightly cephalad of its base. 



Apex of elytron : the distal portion. 



Apex of prothorax : the cephalic margin. 



Base of elytron : the proximal portion. 



Base of prothorax : the caudal margin. 



Carina, frontal: an elevated median ridge or keel on the front of the 

 head. 



Humeral angle : the outer proximal angle of the elytron. 



Metathoracic thickenings : a pair of chitinous bars, running cephalo- 

 caudad on the metathorax, one at the base of each wing. (They 

 are inconspicuous in young pupae but become dark brown and prom- 

 inent in older pupae.) 



