RE POUT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



307 



is interrupted in the middle, very closely approach Mpustulata Fabr. 

 This species, in company with t lie two species we have considered, 

 occurs sometimes on the same plants. It is of the same size as large 

 Specimens of vittata, from which it may be distinguished as follows: 

 The antennaj have the five or six basal joints bright orange yellow, the 

 two elytral spots are bright yellow, the snbhnmeral spot almost reach- 

 ing the side margin, and being rounded behind (not sinuate or indented, 

 as in vittttta, with interrupted vitta). The knees, tibia?, and tarsi are also 

 bright yellow. The only structural differences are, however, the sec- 

 ondary sexual characters, viz., the $ has the antennae simple and the 

 apical impression of the last ventral joint is large, very deep, and well 

 defined. 



Among the numerous species of jumping leaf-beetles {Halticince) the 

 yellow-striped species of Phyllotreta may at once be distinguished by 

 their small size, the markings on the elytra, and by their remarkable 

 jumping power, in which they far surpass the more clumsy encumber 

 and grape-vine Flea-beetles, and in which they are only equaled by the 

 species of Lougi tarsus. 



But the species of this group are difficult to distinguish. There are 

 seven species described from North America, of which three seem to be 

 peculiar to the western portion of the continent, and have not been 

 reported as injurious to agriculture. Of the four eastern species, Ph. 

 robusta seems to be rare, and occurs in Michigan; biputttulata is not 

 common, and occurs in the more Southern States; zimmermanni in the 

 Middle and Southern States; vittata in the Northern, Middle, and 

 Southern States. There can be but Little question that the geographical 

 limits of the most common species have been and are still being- 

 enlarged by the cultivation of cabbage and allied plants. 



A large number of species of this genus have been described from 

 Europe, mostly occurring on cruciferous plants, and several reported 

 as injurious to cultivated CrucifersBj but it appears that the natural 

 history of but one species {J'h. nemorum) has been studied, and it has 

 habits similar to those of zimmermanni. Several of these species are 

 among the most common species of the European Coleopterous fauna, 

 and it is a wonder that none of them have, so far, been introduced into 

 this country. 



The food-plants of the genus in Europe are chiefly Crucifera3. Be- 

 sides the cultivated species, the following genera may be added: 

 Sisymbrium, Capsella, SinaplS, Nasturtium; while, of other families, 

 Beseda, Plantago, and Quercus are also reported to be food plants of 

 the genus. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



From the leaf mines on Lepidium we have bred the following para- 

 site on Pliyllotreta zimmermanni. It is a Chalcid, and belongs to the 

 Entedonid genus Plviirutropis of Foerster : 



Pleuiiotuoims PHYLLOTTtET.fi ii. sp. — Female— Length of hotly, l.f>7 mna ; expanse of 

 wings, ; greatest width of front wing, t).f>S"" 1 '. Antennal scape Blender, m Her ted 



below tiie middle of the face, and reaching nearly to ocelli ; funiele 3-ioiuted, joints 

 BOiuewhat hairy J one ring joint; club 2-joiuted. Facial depression definitely 

 marked, sending oft' a ramus towards the eye; cheeks ratlier prominent, slightly 

 uuctate; vertex broad, smooth, slightly punctate near eyes; occiput delicately 

 ut densely punctate. Pro uo turn with a strongly marked anterior border; me«o> 

 SOU turn densely puuetate ; parapsidesof uiesoseutum indicated by depressions anteriorly 

 and posteriorly ; metanotuzu with a well-marked median carina, nearly smooth on the 

 ehles. Petiole short, transverse, punctate. Abdomen broadly ovoid, smooth, hrstseg- 

 meut very large,' and the others may be almost entirely drawn within it, SubmargLnal 



