22 BULLETIN 901, V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
PREDATORY ENEMIES. 
The natural causes responsible for the periods of comparative 
unimportance of the flea-beetles at the time they were under observa- 
tion were undetermined. Three species of carabid beetles and one 
of ants were found predatory on both flea-beetles, although none of 
the carabids was found in large numbers. Xo species of parasites 
has been reared by the writer. 
Lehia viridis Say/ the most common carabid, was closely asso- 
ciated with both species of flea-beetles. It feeds upon the eggs, 
larvffi, and pupo3 of both species. This Lebia. although classed as a 
ground-beetle, is largely arboreal. It was found in leaf mold under 
wild grapevines, where flea-beetles were pupating in large numbers, 
but more frec^uently on grape leaves, both in vineyards and on wild 
vines. One specimen was taken on a wild grapevine over 15 feet 
above the ground. In spite of their individual A'oracity, as these 
beetles always occurred singly and were never found in large numbers, 
they were not regarded as of sufficient importance to hold the grape- 
vine flea-beetles in check. 
The earliest recorded collection of Lehia viridis was May 22, in 1917. 
This beetle was found feeding upon eggs under strips of bark on grape 
canes. >so more were found until June 22, when larvae of the typical 
flea-beetle were quite common on the vines. After this time untfl 
the first of August Ltlia viridis was fairly numerous. The latest 
record of collection was September 1 1, in 1916, after all of the imma- 
ture stages of the flea-beetles had transformed. 
This carabid is steel blue in color and about the size of the typical 
grapevine flea-beetle, with which it might be confused by a casual 
observer. It is probably the enemy of the fiea-beetle referred to by 
Hartzefl (24), which he describes as a ^'carabid closely resembling the 
adult flea-beetle in size and color." 
LeMa ornata Lec.^ and Earpalus eryihro'pus Dej.^ were found in 
very small numbers in leaf mold under ^vild grapevines, and fed upon 
pup^e and prepupa? of the flea-beetles in confinement. 
A brown ant, Myrmica scabrinodis Xyl., subsp. schenchi Emery, 
var. emery a I La Forel,- destroyed a large amount of larval and pupal 
material that was intended for use in rearing work. Full-grown 
lar\'Ee had been placed in earth in flowerpots partially buried in the 
insectary yard. A few days later ants were found carrying larvae 
and pupae from these pupation quarters. 
The Biological Sm'vey has found grapevine flea-beetles in the 
stomachs of the following birds: Bobwhite (Oolinus virginianus) , 
meadowlark {Sturnella magna) , Cape May warbler {Deiidroica tigrina), 
red-eyed vireo (Vireosylva olivacea), white-eyed vireo {Vireo griseus), 
1 Determined by Mr. E. A. Schwarz. 
2 Determined by Dr. W. M. Wheeler. 
