UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 901 
Contribution from the Bnreau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D, C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER December 13, 1920 
GRAPEVINE FLEA-BEETLES. 
By DWIGHT ISELY, 
Scientific Assistant, Decidiwus-Fruit Insect Investigations. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
History 2 
The grapevine flea-beetle 4 
Description of stages 4 
Distribution 6 
Food plants 6 
Habits 7 
Life history 7 
The lesser grape vine flea-beetle 11 
Description o f st ages ; 11 
Page. 
The lesser grapevine flea-beetle— Continued. 
Distribution 13 
Food plants 13 
Habits 13 
Life history 14 
Economic import ance 20 
Predatory enemies 22 
Methods of control 23 \ 
General summary 24 
Literature cited 26 
INTRODUCTION. 
The grapevine flea-beetle (Altica chalyhea 111.) is a grape pest 
which, in the period of its most destructive activity in early spring, 
eats out the swelling buds, causing severe injury in restricted locali- 
ties. It is one of the best known and most widely distributed of the 
insect enemies of the grape. No other is the source of so many com- 
plaints to the Bureau of Entomology, and American entomological 
literature is full of references to it. In general its life history is well 
known, yet, in spite of this, occasional discrepancies occur in ac- 
counts of its life history that have never been reconciled with the 
usually recorded observations. These discrepancies are usually 
disposed of by attributing them to the variation of individual beetles. 
A study of the life history of the grapevine flea-beetle was under- 
taken by the writer during the season of 1916 for the purpose of 
comparison with that of a smaller flea-beetle also attacking grape. 
A close similarity between the smaller beetle and the typical species 
was noted, but the differences, particularly in seasonal history and 
habits, were so well marked and so constant that the writer was 
1833°— 20 1 
