66 
Washington. Cowpeas growing at Colonial Beach, Va., showed the 
work of this species, and a considerable number of patches of cowpeas 
and beans growing three miles from the beach were all infested. 
About the roots and stems of the plants quite a number of beetles 
were obtained. A few beetles collected July 12 had just transformed, 
their elytra being still soft in texture and pale in color. These indi- 
viduals undoubtedly represent the new generation. 
It was noticeable that the beetles, as well as the signs of their work, 
were most numerous in the particular patches that were poorest. These 
patches showed the effects of the dry weather, but were apparently 
injured in some other way. Some of the stalks had apparently been 
gnawed underground by insect larve, although only a single specimen 
of this larva could be found upon them or in the earth around them. 
The farmer, on whose place these beans grew, was of the impression 
that the beetles and their larvee had injured them, and it would appear 
that the combination of drought and insects had effected their destrue- 
tion. The worst-affected variety of beans were “ Best of-all” string 
beans that grew on a slope on slightly lower ground than the others. 
At Kensington, Md., this beetle occurred on beans, but not in suffi- 
cient numbers to have injured many leaves. It was outnumbered by 
Colaspis brunnea. The same was true at Marshall, Md., where it was 
found eating holes into the leaves August 2. Beeties were more num- 
erous, however, on Meibomia* growing near the beans. 
At this same date Mr. Pratt found the species near Poolesville, Mont- 
gomery County, Md., on beans, as also evidence of its larval work on 
the underground stems, 
Mr. B. E. Behrend wrote this year that he had observed the work of 
the bean leaf-beetle at Seat Pleasant, Prince George County, Md., on 
the foliage of the cowpea, and that a third of his planting failed to make 
a good stand, presumably on account of this insect. The beetle was 
found in cowpeas there by Mr. Pratt, August 10, and later in the month 
evidences of its work were observed at Forestville, in the same county. 
Here, however, it was rare, its scarcity being no doubt due to the 
almost entire absence of wild food plants. 
The occurrence of the bean leaf-beetle in so many Northern localities 
this year suggests certain questions. Is the species on the increase? 
Is its occurrence the present year on beans exceptional? Is this occur- 
rence only local? To what extent is it injurious? 
In the writer’s opinion this species has probably been present on the 
bean in this portion of the country for many years, perhaps for two 
centuries before its first discovery on this plant in Kansas in 1875, as 
beans have probably been cultivated here for upward of two hundred 
years. It will naturally increase on beans, although slowly if the above 
theory be accepted. I am scarcely inclined to believe the present an 
* Meibomia Adans., tick-trefoil or tickseed, is considered in Gray’s Manual under 
the genus Desmodium Desv. 
