The Biology of Maine Species of Altica. 167 



Color description of a first instar larva, early. 



■ Head, legs, prothoracic and anal shields shining black; body dark 

 brown, almost black, lighter ventrally ; dorsal and lateral tubercles dull 

 black ; ventral tubercles brown. 



Color description of a first instar larva, late. 



Head, legs, prothoracic and anal shields shining black ; general 

 aspect of body yellowish white; tubercles dull olive gray; lateral tuber- 

 cles of meso- and meta-thorax darker and prominent. 



The molt to the second instar (first molt). The process 

 of molting is the same in all of the flea-beetles studied, and is 

 described in detail under the second molt of the elm flea-beetle 

 (page i 88). 



Coloration after the first molt. 6 min., absolutely pale translucent 

 creamy white, the mandibles brown, setal punctures black ; head, legs 

 and prothorax white ; 10 min., head, legs, and prothorax slightly darkish ; 

 20 min., the same parts slightly darker, and the tubercles beginning to 

 show dark ; 30 min., the same parts somewhat darker ; 45 min., head and 

 prothorax quite blackish : tubercles decidedly dark : legs darker than 

 the tubercles, but not as dark as the head; 60 min., head and prothoracic 

 shield black: the body has a dark aspect; 75 min., head and prothoracic 

 shining black, the legs black, the tubercles normally colored ; 105 min., 

 fully colored. 



Color description of a second instar larva, early. Head, legs, pro- 

 thoracic and anal shields shining black; general aspect of body almost 

 black (integument yellowish white with the dark brown cuticular nodules 

 very' close together); tubercles dull black. 



Color description of a second instar larva, late. Head, legs, pro- 

 thoracic and anal shields shining black ; general aspect of body yellow- 

 ish white, not much lighter ventrally (cuticular nodules lighter brown 

 and farther apart); dorsal and lateral tubercles dark gray brown; ven- 

 tral tubercles brown ; anal proleg white. 



The molt to the third instar (second molt). The process of molting 

 is the same in all of the flea-beetles studied, and is described in detail 

 under the second molt of the elm flea-beetle (page 188). 



Color description of a third instar larva, early. Head, legs, pro- 

 thoraic and anal shields shining black; general aspect of body almost 

 black above, lighter ventrally; dorsal and lateral tubercles dull black; 

 ventral tubercles gray; anal proleg white. 



Color description of a third instar larva, late. Head, legs, pro- 

 thoracic and anal shields shining black; general aspect of the body light 

 yellowish gray; dorsal and lateral tubercles deep gray brown; ventral 

 tubercles gray ; anal proleg white. 



Feeding- habits. The larvae skeletonize the leaves, leaving only a 

 network of the veins. They feed mostly on the underside of the leaves, 



