22 



According to Mr. Schwarz, the insect passes the winter in the imago 

 state among the leaves and rubbish in the locust groves, as he actually 

 found a few individuals in such a location. 



The writer found two adults at Leesburg. Ohio, on April 3d, 1905. 

 They were in the fine leaf mold, just at the surface of the soil and 

 below the coarser material, which was about two inches deep. In the 

 case reported by Mr. Swezey, the leaves and rubbish in the locust thicket 

 were burned, in a ground fire, during the latter part of March, and as 

 the insects were very numerous soon after this, it would seem that they 

 must pass the winter in the damp leaf mold instead of in the leaves and 

 other coarser material. 



The favorite food plant is the black locust, but they have been 

 reported as feeding upon several other trees, as the cherry, peach, pear, 

 plum, apple, and also upon the grape vine. In the case of cultivated 

 trees the chief injury consists of eating the unopened leaf buds, while 

 on the black locust, in addition to this, they eat round holes in the leaves 



Fig. 9. Adult of the Red Legged Flea Beetle (Crepidodera ruHpes) (from Riley 

 and Howard, Insect Life, 5:341, 1893.) 



after they have expanded. Very little is known as to the food habits 

 of the larva, but, judging from analogy to other closely related species 

 of the same genus, it is probably a root feeder, and as the imago feeds 

 upon the black locust it is supposed that the larva also has the same host. 

 The adult is a pretty little beetle, about one-eighth of an inch in length 

 by about half as wide ; head, thorax and legs a reddish-brown, while the 

 wing covers are a shining metallic blue, marked with parallel rows of 

 fine punctures ; abdomen dark brown. The hind pair of legs is especially 

 adapted to a jumping habit, hence its name. Upon the slightest disturb- 

 ance the insect suddenly springs into the air, but when placed upon a 

 table, or other level surface, they seldom jump more than ten or twelve 

 inches. 



REMEDIES. 



This insect may be destroyed by the use of arsenical poisons, when 

 feeding upon the foliage, but this becomes quite difficult when it attacks 



