April, ’24] 
flint: metachroma interruptum 
261 
and continued up to about July 20. Beetles were found mating each 
night, examinations were made during this period. The beetles fly to 
the apple trees just as it is becoming dark and it was impossible to trace 
their flight. They remained on the trees at least until midnight. 
Usually one or two would be found on a fruit, sometimes as many as six. 
No feeding was noted on the foliage of the trees in the orchard, but the 
beetles fed on the leaves of apple when confined in cages. Careful 
search during the day of the soil and usual insect hiding places in the 
vicinity of the orchard disclosed one beetle under the bark of a tree and 
one in the leaf mulch under the trees. 
Cage experiments showed the beetles were not killed by the strengths 
of arsenate of lead used for control of codling moth, that is, one pound to 
fifty gallons of water, and were repelled by this poison, but would feed 
on the sprayed foliage after twenty-four hours when no other food was 
offered. Three and four pounds of lead to fifty gallons of water killed 
the beetles in cages after about forty-eight hours. 
Extent and Character of Injuries 
The injury by this insect, so far as noted, is caused entirely by the 
feeding of the beetles on the surface of the fruit. Even a small amount 
of feeding rendering the fruit unfit for first grade and in most cases re¬ 
duces it to cider stock. 
During 1921, the injury was slight, in 1922, the crop in some orchards 
was damaged 2 to 10%, in 1923, the damage was less varying from 
scattered feeding on single apples to 5% injured fruit in at least one 
orchard. Even in 1923, damage on individual trees would run to 75% 
of the fruit. Injury to apples was also reported by J. J. Davis and 
Doctor Bennet A. Porter from points in south western Indiana. 
During 1923, the characteristic injury by this beetle was noticed on 
the peaches in several orchards in the southern part of the State and in 
one peach orchard the damage was severe on the outer rows. 
Mr. Arthur Gibson : I would like to ask about the occurrence of this 
insect. 
Mr. W. P. Flint: The insect is common in Indiana and Illinois. It 
has also been found in Kansas and Nebraska. It is apparently not 
common west of the Mississippi river. 
Mr. E. P. Felt: It may interest those present to know that in New 
York State in recent years we have had very similar injuries on apples, 
