COLEOPTEEA OR BEETLES. 151 



The Hop-plea (Plbctroscblih ooncinna). 



Very often in the early part of the year the liop-shoots are 

 much eaten away by this flea-beetle, which also goes to the 

 turnips. The hop-flea does most damage in warm days when 

 the nights have been cold, checking the growth of bine. It 

 also eats the leaves in the same way as the turnip-flea, and 

 occasionally even attacks the cones themselves, when the 

 damage of course is irreparable. The larvae are found in the 

 hop-leaf and the pupae in the hills, the life-history being similar 

 to P. nemorum. Great numbers of P. concinna hibernate in 

 broken pieces of bine, in the bine-stumps left in the ground, 

 and, like the turnip-flea, in hedgerows and other shelter. P. 

 concinna is a brassy-coloured flea-beetle. Spraying the young 

 bine with paraffin emulsion keeps the flea-beetles ofi' for a time, 

 whilst a good dressing of soot and lime over the hills in tlie 

 early morning before the beetles are about will keep the pest in 

 check, but the best plan is to jar the beetles oft" on to tarred 

 boards and to keep poultry in the hop gardens. 



An allied beetle, P^fijUiodet' aftenuatus, sometimes quite ruins 

 hops in an advanced state in Kent by riddling the cones and 

 leaves, when the former are beginning to ripen. 



The Cabbage-flea (Phylloteeta CRUciifEEiE). 



mainly attacks cabbages, sprouts, kale, and savoys, but it also 

 joins with the turnip-flea in attacking turnips and swedes. It 

 is deep shiny blue in colour, and when attacking cabbages feeds 

 on the upper epidermis and soft tissues beneath, leaving the 

 lower epidermis intact, thus giving the plants a marked pale 

 blotchy appearance. It has been found that this and other 

 allied flea-beetles which attack cabbage may be controlled to 

 some extent by spraying with arsenate of lead. Several species 

 appear to work in a similar manner. 



