GRAPEVi:^E FLEA-BEETLES. 
13 
DISTRIBUTION. 
The writer has collected this species in the vicinity of North East 
and Moorheadville, Pa., and has observed it at Niagara Falls, N. Y. 
FOOD PLANTS. 
The grape (Vitis spp.), both wild and cultivated, and the Virginia 
creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are food plants of both the 
larva and the adult of this beetle. Of the cultivated grapes the 
larva flourishes on thin-leaved varieties like the Delaware but does 
not favor thick-leaved sorts like the Concord. Larvae were fre- 
quently found on Concord grapes in the field but the majority of the 
newly hatched larvae placed on Concord leaves in cages failed to pass 
the first instar. After this instar was passed little difficulty was 
experienced in carr3dng them to the adult stage. 
Grape growers, mentioned by Slingerland {19)^ who stated that 
thin-leaved varieties of grapes were preferred by the grapevine 
flea-beetle probably had this insect to deal with instead of the typical 
species. 
HABITS. 
When the adult emerges from hibernation in the spring it attacks 
grape leaves which are already expanded. On the leaves of favored 
hosts it feeds on the lower sides, riddling them with holes. (PL IV.) 
On Concord and other similar varieties it feeds on the upper surface, 
pitting it with short irregular feeding marks but not eating through 
the leaf. (PI. Ill, C.) Like the typical species it feeds much more 
voraciously at this time than later. It also has the same habit of 
feigning death when alarmed. 
Eggs are usually placed singly on the underside of grape leaves, 
along the veins. (PL I, C.) Occasionally two or three are together 
and very rarely they are on the upper surface of the leaves. This 
is strikingly different from the place of oviposition and arrangement 
of eggs described by Slingerland {19) and Hartzell {24), but agrees 
with the records of Comstock {12), Marlatt {18) j and others. 
Like the adult the larva usually feeds on the underside of thin- 
leaved varieties of grapes and the Virginia creeper. A newly hatched 
larva usually begins at the side of a leaf vein and bores upward. 
When leaves are first attacked a series of small holes appears along 
the leaf veins, producing a characteristic marking which need not be 
mistaken for the feeding injury of any other insect. (PL TV.) After 
feeding has progressed for some time the holes are larger and are 
scattered over the leaf, which may become entirely skeletonized. 
The larvae do not move readily from one leaf to another and conse- 
quently the leaves on one part of the vine may be completely riddled 
wliile those near by are untouched. 
