82 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GARDEN AND ORCHARD CROPS. 



The mature larva is figured at c. In life it is dull nearly uniform 

 leaden gray in color, with darker head and still darker brown mouth- 

 parts. The length is from 8 to 9 mm , and the width 3 to l mm . 



The pupa. — The pupa is of nearly the same color as the larva, being 

 a little lighter. It is well illustrated at d. 



The beetle. — The adult beetle, shown in the illustration at a. is shin- 

 ing black in color, sometimes with a green or bluish luster. The pro- 

 thorax and abdomen are red in living specimens and reddish yellow in 

 dried material, and portions of the legs and antenme are pale yellowish. 

 This is not apt to be mistaken for any other common species. From its 

 nearest relative, D. triangularis, it differs in the absence of the trian- 

 gle of spots on the prothorax, and from mellicollis by the color of its 

 thorax and legs, those of the latter being bright blue or green and yel- 

 low respectively. It measures a little less than a quarter of an inch 

 (5.5 mm ). 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The distribution accorded by Dr. Horn, who furnished a more tech- 

 nical description than the above, together with notes, in volume xvi of 

 the Transactions of the American Entomological Society (1889, p. 209), 

 is "from the New England States to Kansas and Florida." 



In the collection of the National Museum and that of the writer the 

 species is represented from the following localities: 



Fitchburg, Mass., South Woodstock, Conn. (October 20): New 

 York, Ithaca, N. Y.; Newark, Hudson County, and elsewhere in New 

 Jersey; District of Columbia: Jonesville. Fortress Monroe, Eosslyn, 

 Ya.: Poolesville and Marshall Hall, Md.j Detroit, Mich.; Kirkwood and 

 elsewhere in Missouri; Nebraska; Kansas; Florida; Columbus, Tex., 

 Bear Paw Mountain. Mont., and Swift Current, British America. It is 

 recorded also from Mount Washington. N. H. (Bowditch); Allegheny, 

 Pa. (Hamilton): Buffalo. N. Y.: Iowa City, Iowa (Wickham), and else- 

 where. This includes an area from the Lower Austral through the 

 Transition to the Boreal life zone. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



Writing of this flea-beetle in her original article. Miss Murtfeldt 

 says : 



This species seems to be but single brooded, as no young larvae were to be found 

 after the first of June. As. however, the spinach beds were rooted out before 

 midsummer in all the gardens in the vicinity. I can not be quite certain about 

 this point, but could not discover it on beets or any of the native Chenopodiacea 1 . 



The beetles reared by the writer were kept feeding in confinement, 

 and in time laid eggs, proving that there are two generations produced 

 annually in climates such as that of the District of Columbia. 



The duration of the egg stage was observed during hot weather in 

 August. Eggs that were deposited August 11 hatched on the 18th, 



