95 



of the pignut hickory (Carya porcina), and, during the process, cutting 

 off the leaves, which hang down, wither, and turn black." This para- 

 graph is copied substantially in the fifth report of the Commission. 

 The late Dr. John Hamilton has also placed hickory on record as a 

 food plant of this species. He says: "Common on hickory, on the 

 leaves of which the larvae live." (Tr. Am. Ent. Soc, Vol. XXII, p. 376.) 

 The writer has beaten this species from hickory at Ithaca, N. T., in 

 July. The beetles have been collected about Washington late in May 

 and early in June. — F. H. Chittenden. 



A NEW SUGAR-BEET BEETLE. 



Under date of January 4, 1898, Mr. Henry C. Barron, of Hagerman, 

 N. Mex., sent specimens of the little leaf-beetle, Monoxiapuncticpllis Say, 

 with the statement that it was doing serious injury to the sugar-beet 

 crop in his locality. Its presence was not noticed until the year 1897. 

 A few of the beetles, locally known as the " French bug," were found on 

 the date given by digging in the earth by the side of a beet to the depth 

 of about six inches. Neither eggs nor larvae were to be found at this 

 time. Our correspondent states that the beetles lay their eggs on the 

 underside of a leaf, that they hatch in about six days, and that the 

 young larvae commence feeding at once and continue for nine or ten 

 days, when they dig their way into the ground, and, a few days later, 

 come forth as beetles. 



The principal damage is by the larvae, hundreds being found on a 

 single small plant, which is either consumed or is apparently so injured 

 that it shrivels and dies. This beetle is a maritime species, occurring 

 near the seashore and in saline localities. It is known from Massachu- 

 setts to Florida on the Atlantic coast, as well as in California, Colorado, 

 Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Until the appearance of Dr. Horn's 

 Synopsis of the Galerucini, published in 1893, this species was repre- 

 sented in collections under the name of Galeruca maritima. According 

 to Horn, morosa Lee. and erosa Lee. are synonyms of the same species, 

 and the first description of this insect was published by Say in 1824 

 (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci.,Yol. III., p. 458; Lee, ed. II, p. 222), as Oal- 

 lerucdpuncticolliSj from Mississippi and Arkansas. 



This is the first instance of this insect having been found upon any 

 cultivated plant, and, so far as at present known, nothing has yet been 

 published concerning its larval food plant. Mr. Schwarz, of this Divi- 

 sion, has found it living in its larval stage upon the sea blite, Suwda 

 linearis, a, maritime species, like the insect, and a member of the family 

 Phytolaccaceae. A congeneric species, Monoxia guttulata, was reported 

 injurious to the sugar beet in Oregon in 1890, and was made the subject 

 of a special note by Mr. F. L. Washburn, in Bulletin No. 14 of the 

 Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station — F. H. C. 



