6 BULLETIN 892, U. §. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
dig their way into the ground and a few days later come forth as 
beetles. The principal damage it was noted was due to the larve. 
hundreds of which often occurred on a single plant, which was either 
consumed or apparently so injured that it shriveled and died. 
During 1902 and 1903 this species was reported injurious to sugar 
beets by Mr. W. K. Winterhalter, Rocky Ford, Colo. May 7, 1902, 
he wrote that where the beetles had appeared they kept the leaves 
- eaten down to such an extent that the beet was unable to make any 
growth. They were most numerous on very warm, loose land, rich in 
lime, and a rapid increase under the then favorable climatic conditions 
was anticipated. They were gregarious, occurring “in swarms like 
blister beetles.” Later it was reported that while the beetles had 
not done extensive damage, they had prevented beets from growing 
in several fields through their continual inroads on the fohage. In 
one instance 5 acres had to be replanted. After the beets were irri- 
gated they grew more rapidly and thus kept ahead of the beetles 
and serious damage was apparently averted for that season. 
August 27, 1904, Mr. S. I. Borton, Lamar, Colo., sent sugar-beet 
leaves badly injured by the insect with living specimens of the 
beetle. September 26, Mr. H. Timothy, Greeley, Colo.,.wrote that 
~ about May 15 this species, the-so-called “ alkali bug,” was very de- 
structive to sugar beet, working almost entirely on alkali land. The 
insect was described as similar in shape and size to the Colorado 
potato “ bug,” yellowish with black stripes, and with a hard shell. 
This species was also observed in 1904 by Prof. E. G. Titus on sugar 
beet at Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Grand Junction, and 
Rocky Ford, Colo. 
May 26, 1905, Mr. J. H. Windfelder, manager of the National 
Sugar Manufacturing Co., Sugar City, Colo., sent beetles and larve 
observed on young sugar beet. They proved very destructive, de- 
stroying the young beets down to the ground. They were found in 
an area that was somewhat seepy or wet, and, although they spread 
beyond this area, they did the most damage adjacent thereto. 
June 30, 1909, Mr. Harry B. Shaw, at that time engaged in sugar- 
beet investigations for the Bureau of Plant Industry, sent specimens 
collected on sugar beet at Thatcher, Utah, growing on the margin of 
fields close to alkaline ground in which grew “ salt-grass” (Atriplea 
sp.) and some other weeds. At that time the insects were migrating 
to the beets and eating them to the ground, although the beets were 
then of considerable size. This species was also reported by Mr. 
Shaw attacking beets and Dondia at Garland, Utah, August 15. 
June 14, 1910, injury was reported to young beets at Manzanola, 
Colo., by Mr. W. W. Spencer. He found it in beets growing near 
sloughs and a considerable number on lamb’s-quarters. | 
