672 
ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW YORK 
GARDEN FLEA. COLORS. VARIETIES. IN GRAIN FIELDS AND ON CLOVER. 
which are a third longer than thick, each one increasing slightly in thick¬ 
ness towards its tip, except the apical one which has the form of an elon¬ 
gated egg and is longer than those which precede it. The antennas are 
bearded with fine, short hairs, as - is also the front, the hind part of the 
body and the legs. 
Its color, in the largest individuals, is dull black, without any glossiness, 
the head being dull 'yellowish brown or rust-colored, with the eyes black 
and the edges of their orbits whitish. The antennae are also dull black 
with their bases rusty, and the legs are of this last color. This rusty 
color varies in its tone, being sometimes bright and clear, and at other 
times or in individuals from other situations, dull and obscure. 
From differences in their color and size we might readily name and define 
four or five species from what I do not doubt are merely the different stages 
of one species in its progress/rom youth to maturity and old age. The 
following varieties are the most important, and arc so marked and of such 
frequent occurrence that they merit to be noticed. 
1, juvenilis, or the Young Garden Flea. Yellowish brown or rust-colored 
throughout, the body being of the same hue with the head; and but half 
the size of the largest individuals. These are most common at the opening 
of the season. 
2, basalis. Body dull black, its anterior part and tip rust-color. 
3, dorsalis. Body dull black, its tip and a stripe along the middle of its 
fore part rust-color. 
4, apicalis. Body dull black with only the contracted apical protuberance 
or tip rust color. Common. 
5, viaturus. Body dull black throughout, the head, legs and bases of the 
antennae rust-color. This appears to be the normal state of the mature 
insect. 
This insect is not limited to the garden, but occurs more or less common 
everywhere in arable land. In fields of young wheat and rye, in May and 
June, I have often noticed it as being more numerous than any other insect 
there. And in fields of clover I have sometimes found it in great numbers, 
in company with the yellow Field Flea next to be noticed. 
It is so very abundant in this country that we should expect it would bo 
common in Europe also. But none of the species of Symnthurus described in 
Nicolet’s article (Noveaux Memoires de la Societe Helvctique, vol. vi, p. 81) 
in Gervais (Apteres—Suites a Buffon) or any other author which I have at 
hand, appear to coincide with our insect. If it occurred in England as it does 
here, we think it could not have been overlooked by Mr. Curtis, in his late 
researches. But in his invaluable volume on Farm Insects, recently pub¬ 
lished, we only meet with one species of this genus, described (p. 432) as 
occurring on the under side of potato leaves in July and August, which is 
evidently unlike this insect of our country; though in the same connection 
he makes the following remark, which very probably refers to the species of 
which I am here speaking. He says: “ In Nova Scotia the crops of turnips 
