4 
BX.ULETIX 901. 1'. S. DEPAETZ^IEXT OF AGEICCXTUEE. 
The grapeT-ine flea-beetle has been recorded as feeding on various 
plants, including the following: Grape (Thomas, 3), black alder 
(Harris, 7\ plum and elm (Fitch, 8), Yirginia creeper (Saunders, 11), 
apple and quince CMac^Iillan, 14-)- peach Os"eal, 16). and blue beech 
(Schwarz. 17), 
Of these food plants only three have been frequently listed, viz, 
the grape, the Yirginia creeper, and the black alder. It was sug- 
gested by Lintner >13'^ that records of feeding upon black alder were 
probably due to a confusion of this species with A. limarginata, the 
alder flea-beetle, which closely resembles A. cLalylea. This view was 
confirmed, at least so far as Harris was concerned, by Slingerland {19), 
who found in Harris's entomological correspondence evidence that 
Harris's later studies convinced him that the alder flea-beetle and 
the grapevine flea-beetle are separate species. Hartzell (^4) lists 
only cultivated grape of the Concord variety and the wild grape 
{Vitls hicolor) as food plants. 
Slingerland (19) records a difference of opinion among growers as 
to what varieties of grapes are most seriously attacked by the grape- 
vine flea-beetle, some correspondents stating that the flea-beetle pre- 
ferred Concord fohage and others that it preferred the thin-leaved 
varieties. 
In addition to the references designating the grapevine flea-beetle 
as A. cTialyhea III., Lugger (21) describes the habits of an insect 
which he calls '"the lesser grapevine flea-beetle. " and beheved to be 
A. ignita 111., the strawberry flea-beetle. He describes the habits 
as similar to those of A. chalyhea. the only difference noted being 
that the former was little more than half the size of A. cTiaJylea. It 
is quite possible that the insect referred to was the ''small form" of 
the grapevine flea-beetle. 
In discussing the ignita group" of the genus Altica, Woods (26) 
mentions a beetle beheved to be a new species collected on woodbine 
both in 1917 and in 1918. which is probably the lesser grapevine 
flea-beetle. He describes the sahent characteristics of the adult 
and mentions that the eggs are deposited singly or by twos on the 
under surface of the leaves. 
THE GRAPEVIXE FLEA-BEETLE. 
DESCEIPTION OF STAGES, 
THE ADULT. 
PI. n, fig. 3. 
The following is a copy of Horn's (15) description of the beetle: 
H. chalyhea Illig. 
Oval, 01 moderately robijst iacies, color usually metallic shining blue, rarely 
cupreous or greenisli. Antennae half as long as the body, piceous, the basal half 
vrith metallic lustre, joints 2-3-4 gradually longer. Head smooth, slightly rough- 
