THE BEET LEAF-BEETLE. 5 
must be somewhat local as regards abundance; in other words, what 
we commonly term rare. 
Only the so-considered subspecies or normal type occurring in the 
‘Middle West from Arizona and New Mexico to Montana is destruc- 
tive to sugar beet, although in one instance report of attack to beets 
at Brownsville, Tex., was noted. While the localities indicated on 
the map show injuries only in six States, it is readily seen that injury 
is apt to take place in neighboring States; e. g., Wyoming, western 
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and perhaps eastern 
Nevada. From what is known of this species it seems probable that 
it is not one of the numerous pests which are constantly on the 
increase and which are enlarging their injurious distribution, but, on 
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Fic. 4.—Map showing distribution of beet leaf-beetle. Large dots show injurious dis- 
tribution ; circles, innoxious localities. 
the contrary, it may, in the course of time, especially if remedial 
measures are adopted, rather decrease its injurious range than other- 
wise, or at least decrease as a pest. 
REPORTS OF INJURIES. 
Under date of January 4, 1898, Mr. Henry C. Barron, Hagerman, 
N. Mex., sent specimens of the beet leaf-beetle with statement that it 
was doing serious injury to the sugar-beet crop in that locality. Its 
presence was not noticed until the year 1897. A few of the beetles; 
locally known as “ French bugs,” were found at that time by digging 
in the earth by the side of a beet to the depth of about 6 inches. 
Neither eggs nor larvee were to be found at this time. The corre- 
spondent stated that the beetles lay their eggs on the underside of a 
leaf, that they hatch in about 6 days, and that the young larve com- 
mence feeding at once and continue for 9 or 10 days, when they 
