pat 
THE BEET LEAF-BEETLE. q 
July 5, 1910, numerous adults and egg clusters were observed by 
Mr. D. K. McMillan in a beet field a mile southwest of Rocky Ford, 
Colo. They were also working on Russian thistle growing along 
a ditch, together with larve about a week old. This locality is near 
a large “alkali spot” caused by seepage. Adults were very abun- 
dant there the previous fall and many came through the winter under 
rubbish. During the week following, beet leaves were considerably 
eaten around the edges by the beetles. The species, it was surmised, 
would be likely to cause considerable damage in the field at this point 
during the next few weeks if it were not checked by spraying. 
August 9 Mr. McMillan reported all stages very numerous in the 
alkali flat 2 miles south of town on weeds along the roadside and on 
sugar beets at Rocky Ford, Colo. Pupe were not difficult to find 
in the soil around beet plants and were located from one-half inch to 
2 inches beneath the surface of the ground, which was a sandy loam. 
Numerous egg masses were found on wild plants which had been 
defoliated. Fifty adults were found on some plants and on others 
fully 100 larve. 
In 1913 it was reported injurious to sugar beet at Artesia, N. Mex.., 
August 4, by Mr. R. W. Bruce. 
July 17, 1916, Prof. D. E. Merrill, State College, N. Mex., re-— 
ported this species feeding on sugar beets. 
FOOD PLANTS. 
The adults have been observed feeding on the following varieties 
of beet (Leta vulgaris): Sugar beet, garden or table beet, mangel- 
wurzel, and Swiss chard. They have also been found on spinach 
(Spinacia oleracea), lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium album), sea- 
blte (YVondia erecta, americana, linearis, multiflora, and depressa), 
Russian thistle (Salsola pestifer), saltwort (S. kali), saltbush (At7- 
plex argentea, patula, and hastata), sea purslane (Sesuvium sessile) 
and pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). Some of these host plants 
are shown in Plates II to V. 
Lamb’s-quarters, sea-blite, and sugar beet are the favorite food 
plants of the beetle; Russian thistle and sea purslane are readily 
eaten in early spring when other food is comparatively scarce, but 
table beets, mangel-wurzel, spinach, and Swiss chard are more rarely 
injured, although relished by the beetles which occur on them by 
chance infestation. Salt-bush and pigweed are less popular and 
seldom attacked. 
The larve are still more restricted in their choice of food. They 
have been observed feeding on sea-blite, lamb’s-quarters, Russian 
thistle, and sugar beet. Sea-blite (Pl. VI, D), and lamb’s-quarters 
(Pl. VI, C) are decidedly the favorites and are eaten in preference 
to all other plants. Sea-blite occurs in densely growing areas and by 
