27 



The species mentioned by J. F. Wielandy in Insect Life (Vol. m, 

 p. 122) as having been u very pestiferous " to various plants in 1890 at 

 Santa Fe, N. Mex., and particularly to "Yoseniite Mammoth bush 

 beans (costing- one-half a cent a bean)," is probably blanda, but the 

 specimens received on that occasion are not, at the time of writing, 

 available for identification. 



In 1893 Dr. J. B. Smith reported it in great abundance in the south- 

 ern and central counties of New Jersey. Near Bridge ton, June 26, " it 

 had almost entirely destroyed every field of carrots," the injury being to 

 young plants as soon as the} T appeared above the surface. The leaves 

 of young beets were infested, ' ' melons of all kinds were also attacked, 

 and in one field of cantaloupes the injury done by these creatures 

 exceeded the injury done by the striped beetles," Diabrotica vittata. 

 Corn, purslane, and pigweed were also infested. In previous years 

 the same writer had noted injuiy by this species to beans near Wash- 

 ington, N. J. (Kept. Fnt. N. J. Agl. Coll. Expt. Sta. for 1893 [1894], 

 pp. 178-180.) 



In 1891 Dr. Forbes publishes the first account of the biology of this 

 species, giving descriptions (by John Marten) of the larva and pupa 

 and figuring the former. 



Finally, in 1899, Prof. W. G. Johnson, of the Maryland Agricultural 

 -Experiment Station, reported this species to be injurious that year, the 

 first report having reached him May 2, to Kieffer pear grafts. Dam- 

 age was stated to be serious, and was accomplished by the beetle's eating 

 out the terminals, thus stunting the growth of the trees. June 1, the 

 same } T ear, the species was reported to Professor Johnson as having 

 destroyed 10 acres of tomatoes in Dorchester County, Md., injury 

 being described as widespread, serious damage having been done in 

 the Eastern Shore counties (Bui. 20, n. s., p. 63). 



EARLY DIVISIONAL RECORDS. 



Complaints of damage to the blades of corn have come to the Division 

 from other sources than those published. Among these a few may be 

 mentioned. Reports were received, with specimens, from John W. 

 Spencer, Paxton, Sullivan County, Ind., dated June 22, 1885; from 

 R. F. Smith, Columbia City, Ind., who stated that the species was 

 " doing considerable damage to growing corn and oats," June 20, 1895; 

 from B. F. Ferris, Sumner, Ind., reporting that this flea-beetle was 

 "destroying the leaves of young corn as soon as they appear, thereby 

 killing the plants." 



The writer observed the beetles in some abundance the second week 

 of June, 1891, at Kennett Square, Pa., eating the blades of corn and 

 the leav T es of Ambrosia artemisicefolia, which grew between the rows of 

 hills. 



Of injury to other crops the following reported instances are worthy 



