

The Biology of Maine Species of Altica. 197 



stage, and the writer has no data which would indicate that the 

 beetles ever live over the winter. 



The larvae hatch in the spring before the buds are fully 

 expanded, and feed on the opening buds, so that they do great 

 damage if abundant. The writer has taken a few larvae well 

 ilong in the second instar even as early as June i, so it is evi- 

 dent that some of the eggs hatch as early as May 24. The 

 najority of larvae hatch in early June, and by the twentieth 

 nost of them are in the last instar; very few larvae can be 

 :ound after the first of July. 



The pupal period is passed in the soil and is somewhat 

 onger than that of related species. The first adult beetle bred 

 n the laboratory emerged June 25, and the writer has taken 

 lone as early in the field, so this must represent about the 

 earliest date on which they appear. It is 10 days or 2 weeks 

 ifter emergence before they begin to pair, and several days 

 ater before eggs are deposited. The first eggs were deposited 

 n the laboratory on July 12 (1917), and the last on August 16, 

 ^1917). The great bulk of eggs is deposited in late July or 

 . r ery early August. 



Adults may be taken quite commonly until well into Sep- 

 ember, but the writer has seen no indication that the beetles 

 wer survive the winter. There is only one generation each 

 ieason. 



Distribution. 



The blueberry flea-beetle is widely distributed in Maine, 

 ind the writer has taken specimens in Orono, Ellsworth, 

 Jherryfield, and York County. Ordinarily this species is un- 

 :ommon or rare in the state, but periodically it occurs in great 

 ibundance, especially on the blueberry barrens of Washington 

 bounty, and when it is present in any considerable numbers, 

 s capable of great damage, since it feeds on the opening blos- 

 soms, and consequently the attacked bushes bear no fruit. This 

 )eetle was increasingly common in 1914 and 191 5, and was 

 ocally very abundant in 1916; the larvae were common in 1917, 

 mt there were very few beetles later in the summer, and no 

 pecimens were taken in Orono in 1918, nor were any com- 

 )laints received of the work elsewhere in the state up to the 

 ime this bulletin went to press. 



