1008 I. M. Hawtey 
Most of the eggs found have been near ragweed and beggar-ticks, tho a 
few have been found near other hosts. 
The eggs of S. frontalis that have been under observation have never 
hatched during the same year in which they were deposited. Eleven eggs 
deposited on August 24, 1919, hatched between May 20 and 26, 1920. 
These eggs were kept during the winter on moist dirt in a petri dish in a 
cool room. Eggs deposited during September, 1920, and kept in a warm 
office, had not hatched by February 20, 1921. It would seem, therefore, 
that the egg stage of this insect covers about nine months. Scammell 
(1917) says: ‘“* Egg laying begins in late July, with deposition just below 
the surface of the ground. Hatching takes place the following May.” 
The larva and the pupa 
Little is known of the larval stage of Systena frontalis. Two larvae 
hatching on May 25, 1920, were reared until June 15. At that time the 
larger one had reached a length of 5.5 millimeters and was probably nearly 
full-grown. The writer did not succeed in rearing these larvae thru to 
pupae. The larval stage is probably passed in feeding on the roots of the 
insect’s weed hosts, but there are no definite data on the larval and pupal 
parts of the life history. A pupa believed to be that of frontalis was 
found near beggar-ticks in June, 1920, but as it could not be reared the 
identity is uncertain. 
The adult 
The red-headed flea beetles have been taken in the field from early in 
July until the first of October. They are most abundant on beans in 
August. Beetles have frequently, been seen in copulation during August, 
and in 1920 some were observed as late as September 15. 
Blatchley (1910) found the parent beetles of Systena frontalis wintering 
beneath the bark of white maple and in mullein, in Indiana. The writer 
has not succeeded in keeping the caged beetles alive thru the winter in 
New York, and, since this insect has not been found in the spring before 
July, it is doubtful that it hibernates as an adult in this State. 
Red-headed flea beetles caged with ragweed or beans will feed actively 
for a few days and then go into the ground to deposit their eggs. In the 
field the same condition is found. After feeding on beans they move to 
ragweed, beggar-ticks, or some other host, where they may be found in 
numbers until they go into the soil for oviposition. 
SEASONAL HISTORY 
The parent beetle of Systena frontalis comes from the ground in July and 
August, and, after feeding on its cultivated and weed hosts, enters the 
ground for oviposition during August and September. The eggs over- 
winter near the plants, and hatch in May of the following year. The larval 
