THE BEET LEAF-BEETLE. _ 15 
In 1838 Harris (2, p. 01) made what is evidently the first mention 
of the habits of this species, stating, while writing of the striped 
cucumber beetle,* that “the habits are presumed to be the same as 
those of Galeruca puncticollis, which is found in profusion on the 
common Salsola. The larve of this species live in the earth and 
feed on the roots of Salsola, and do not leave the earth until they 
become perfect insects.” The food plant mentioned is undoubtedly 
right, but the statement that the larvee feed on the roots is erroneous © 
and was doubtless inspired by the finding of larve prior to pupation 
in the earth about the roots. 
In 1865 (3) the species was redescribed under the name of Gal- 
eruca maritima by LeConte, who stated that it was abundant from 
New York to Florida. 
In 1893 Dr. G. H. Horn (4), in his monograph of the Galerucini, 
redescribed the species, placing it in the genus Monoxia, characteriz- 
ing the genus and furnishing a lst of synonyms and varieties with a 
consideration of the distribution. 
The beet leaf-beetle is a comparatively new pest. The first records 
of injurious attack to cultivated crops were in 1898. In that year 
Dr. Wm. P. Headden (4) reported that the species had been plenti- 
ful on July 3 of 1897, and was doing considerable damage to sugar 
beet at Fort Collins, Colo. At that date the beets were sprayed with 
Paris green at the rate of 1 pound to 50 gallons of water, which gave 
the best results of any insecticide tried. The same year the senior 
author (6) recorded a simultaneous infestation to sugar beet, at 
Hagerman, N. Mex., in 1897, and gave notes on the insect’s habits and 
history. ) 
In 1900 Messrs. Forbes and Hart (7, p. 475-476) gave a brief ac- 
count of the species in a comprehensive bulletin on the economic 
entomology of the sugar beet. 
In 1902 Prof. C. P. Gillette (S) reviewed the previous history of 
the species and reported attack to sugar beets at Fort Collins, Colo., 
giving notes on the insect’s life history and habits as it occurred in 
that region. It is recommended that in order to prevent injury to 
beets, alkali ground be avoided for planting purposes. This account 
is illustrated by a plate showing the eggs, larvee, beetle, and injury. 
In 1903 the senior author (9) published some additional notes in 
regard to this species, reporting injury to beets at Rocky Ford, Colo., 
in 1902, and furnishing descriptions of the egg and of the 
larva, with original illustrations of these and of the beetle. The 
same year he (10, 11, p. 9-11) published a summarized account of the 
species, followed by a condensed report (12). 
4 Diabrotica vittata Fab. 
