REPOKT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 



THE FIERY FLEA BEETLE. 

 (Haltica ignita Illig.) 



While treating strawberry insects it might not come amiss to men- 

 tion one of our ilea beetles that has been observed in the act of injur- 

 ing that plant during the past spring. There have been several 

 complaints filed against this culprit ; but the most severe comes from 

 distant Florida, where, as the informant writes to the editor of Insect 

 Life, "They appeared on my strawberries in thousands. You can 

 judge of their number when I tell you that all sent were taken by 

 holding the box under one leaf and shutting the cover down on it, and 

 I expect you will find at least twenty-five or thirty in the box, and 

 they are numerous all over the patch. All the berry fields in this 

 neighborhood are infested." 



Here in Nebraska the beetle is not as plentiful as it is further 

 south, but it is sufficiently common to warrant us to keep a look- 

 out on its movements. Being a rather general feeder, like many of 

 our other flea beetles, it is quite liable to do damage where least 

 expected. 



It is moderately robust in form, nearly one-eighth of an inch in 

 length, and is of a deep purplish metallic color and shines with a fiery 

 luster, hence the name ignita. 



REMEDIES. 



The remedy given for the Apple-tree Flea Beetle in last year's re- 

 port will answer for this one also when the plant or plants affected are 

 not among the food-list; even then, if the proper precautions are taken, 

 the London purple and Paris green remedies may safely be used. If, 

 however, the beetles should attack the strawberry vines at a time when 

 the fruit might be injured or even rendered possibly dangerous for food, 

 these poisons should not be used. At such times air-slaked lime, if 

 dusted over the plants, will usually drive away the insects. 



SWEET POTATO INSECTS. 



Several years ago I planted a small patch of sweet potatoes at West 

 Point in this state. Soon after the vines began to run they showed 

 signs of insect attack; and in two or three instances were entirely 

 stripped of leaves by the united work of several species of insect 

 enemies. These enemies belonged to two different orders, viz., Coleop- 



