1002 I. M. HaAwLEy 
The adult 
The adult (Plate LXIX, 11) is described by Blatchley (1910) as follows: 
Elongate-oval. Color variable, usually reddish or brownish-yellow, shining; elytra each 
always with a paler median stripe; under surface and narrow margins of thorax usually 
piceous; antennae and legs reddish-brown. Thorax one-fourth wider than long, sides 
feebly rounded, surface finely and sparsely punctured. Elytra distinctly wider than 
thorax, finely, shallowly and rather densely punctate. Length 3-4.5 mm. 
LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS 
The egg 
Eggs of the pale-striped flea beetle were nearly mature in dissected 
females on July 15, 1919, and beetles placed in a cage with ragweed and 
beans on that date had deposited eggs in the soil by July 22. In 1920 
no eggs were found in females opened on June 29, but they were present 
in specimens opened on July 21. In the cages eggs were deposited for some 
time after August 6; many were deposited about August 25, and some could 
still be found on September 8. It may be said that in New. York the period 
of oviposition of Systena taencata extends from the last of July until the 
first part of September. 
In 1919, after finding eggs of S. taenzata in cages the writer looked for 
them in the field, and on July 29 a few were discovered around ragweed. 
On August 5 some were taken near the roots of lamb’s-quarters, and later 
many more were found around this host. Nineteen eggs under observation 
in the laboratory hatched in an average of 17 days, with a range from 15 to 
23 days. 
The egg of S. taeniata closely resembles that of S. -frontalis, wh ch is 
frequently present in the same habitat, and sometimes it is difficult to 
distinguish the eggs of these two species. However, the eggs of taenzata 
are smaller and are deposited earlier in the season than those of frontalzs. 
Few females of frontalis were mature when eggs were found in the field on 
August 5, and, since a dead specimen of taenzata was found in the ground 
near these eggs, there is little doubt of their parentage. 
Eggs of taenzata are usually scattered in the ground singly, but they may 
occur in clusters of from two to seven. They may be found from half an 
inch to three inches deep, and the writer has always found them near the 
roots of ragweed and lamb’s-quarters tho they no doubt occur also near 
some of the other hosts of the insect. 
The larva 
Kegs of Systena taeniata have hatched in the laboratory from July 25 to 
September 8. The newly hatched larvae feed below ground on the roots 
of their weed hosts. A few small larvae, together with eggs of this species, 
were found on the lateral roots of lamb’s-quarters in August, 1919. Larvae 
of this species have not been found feeding on the roots of beans. 
