THE DESERT CORN FLEA-BEETLE, 
seasons of the year when these grasses are flourishing the adult 
beetles can be found feeding upon the leaves, while the larvae can be 
taken from the roots. 
Of the cultivated crops, this beetle seems to be especially fond of 
corn, milo maize, and Sudan grass, and it is to these crops that it does 
the greatest damage. It has been taken in both the adult and larval 
stages, feeding upon Indian corn, milo maize, kafir corn, sorghum, 
sugar cane, Sudan grass, wheat, barley, and alfalfa, and Mr. R. N. 
Wilson reported it as doing exceedingly great damage to a field of 
beans on a ranch southeast of Tempe, Ariz. According to the state- 
ment of Mr. E. W. Hudson, many young bamboo plants growing on 
the Bureau of Plant Industry Experimental Farm at Sacaton, Ariz., 
were entirely killed. Dr, F. H. Chittenden has on file a record by Mr, 
E. L. Crow, showing that the beetle, besides feeding on corn, Johnson 
grass, and barley, occasionally attacks cantaloupes; and one by Mr. 
E. S. G. Titus, reporting it as feeding upon sugar beets 
DESCRIPTIONS. 
THE ADULT. 
One is hardly likely to confuse this flea-beetle with any other 
occurring in the areas where corn, wheat, barley, and Sudan grass are 
seriously injured. Only one other re- 
sembling it in size, color, and jumping 
habits occurs in these semiarid regions 
in any number. This is the western 
cabbage flea-beetle (Phyllotreta pusilla 
Lee.) which occurs on cruciferous plants, 
and which differs in being slightly longer 
Fig. 1.— The desert corn flea-beetle ( Chaetocnema ectypa): Adult, dorsal view; a, same, lateral view in out- 
line. Greatly enlarged. (Original.) 
and in having a more pointed abdomen than the desert corn flea-beetle. 
The eastern corn flea-beetle (Chaetocnema pulicaria Crotch) occurs in 
