584 
Journal o f Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIX, No. 12 
the spring generation, which emerges 
from about May 1 to May 15, when 
tobacco is from 12 to 18 inches high; 
the first summer generation, which 
appears from the middle to the end of 
June, when tobacco is nearly mature; 
and a second summer generation, 
which may appear upon late tobacco 
during the latter part of July or the 
early part of August. 
. In addition to the four broods men¬ 
tioned, there are probably one or two 
more partial generations, but their 
numbers are so few and scattered, and 
the preceding generations so overlap, 
that it is impossible to make a definite 
statement concerning them. 
Hibernation. —The tobacco flea- 
beetle passes the winter in the adult 
stage. In northern Florida this period 
is passed in an incomplete state of 
hibernation. During cold weather the 
beetles seek shelter under piles of leaves, 
weeds, trash, or any kind of material 
which affords protection. During 
warm periods, however, they may be¬ 
come active and are often to be found 
feeding in sheltered spots. During 
unusually warm weather breeding may 
take place to a limited extent. 
SUMMARY 
The tobacco crop in the southern 
cigar-wrapper district is attacked by 
the overwintered brood and by two 
later generations of the tobacco flea- 
beetle, Epitrix parvula. After the 
crop is harvested there may be two and 
possibly three additional broods, which 
so overlap that it is impossible to tell 
them apart. 
The eggs of this beetle are usually de¬ 
posited in cracks or crevices in the soil 
near the base of the plant. 
Females of the overwintered brood 
may lay as many as 200 eggs, but the 
deposition in later broods is much less. 
Moist soil, when available, is always 
selected for deposition in preference to 
dry soil. When moist soil is unavail¬ 
able, the beetles deposit eggs very 
sparingly, even over long periods of 
time. 
Egg deposition, as well as feeding, 
may take place at any time during the 
day or night. 
In the early spring months at Quincy, 
Fla., incubation requires about 11 
days, whereas in summer the eggs 
usually hatch in about 5 days. A cer¬ 
tain amount of moisture is necessary 
for incubation. 
The larvae of the tobacco flea-beetle 
live underground and feed upon the 
roots of the tobacco plant and other 
plants of the family Solanaceae. 
Larval records obtained at Quincy, 
Fla., show that the length of this stage 
may vary from 11 days in midsummer 
to 41 days in early spring. 
The pupal stage is passed in a small 
oval-shaped cell about an inch below 
the surface of the ground. The aver¬ 
age length of this stage during the sum¬ 
mer is about five days. 
Newly-emerged flea-beetles remain 
near the ground and confine their feed¬ 
ing to the lower tobacco leaves. In a 
short time, however, they spread over 
the entire plant and feed on all por¬ 
tions of the foliage. 
While tobacco is the preferred food 
plant of the tobacco flea-beetle, other 
plants, both wild and cultivated, be¬ 
longing to the Solanaceae are fed upon 
to a considerable extent. In the ab¬ 
sence of solanaceous plants the beetles 
will feed sparingly upon various other 
wild and cultivated plants. 
Deposition of eggs commences soon 
after emergence of the beetle from 
hibernation and continues until early 
fall. 
The tobacco flea-beetle is capable of 
flying a considerable distance, this 
being the most important means of 
dispersion. 
Hibernation in the southern cigar- 
wrapper district is incomplete. 
LITERATURE CITED 
(1) Blatchley, W. S. 
1910. THE COLEOPTERA OR BEETLES OF INDIANA. 
Ind. Dept. Geol. and Nat. Resources Bui. 1: 
1218. 
(2) Chamberlin, F. S., and Tenhet, J. N. 
1923. THE TOBACCO FLEA-BEETLE IN THE SOUTHERN 
CIGAR-WRAPPER DISTRICT. U. S. Dept. Agr. 
Farmers’ Bui. 1352, 9 p., illus. 
(3) Chittenden, F. H. 
1898. some miscellaneous results of the work 
OF THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. THE TOBAC¬ 
CO flea-beetle. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. 
(n. s.) Bui. 10: 79-82, illus. 
(4) - 
1899. some insects injurious to garden and 
ORCHARD CROPS. BIOLOGIC AND OTHER NOTES 
ON THE FLEA-BEETLES WHICH ATTACK SOLANA¬ 
CEOUS plants. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. 
(n. s.) Bui. 19: 85-90, illus. 
(5) Howard, L. O. 
1899. PRINCIPAL INSECTS AFFECTING THE TOBACCO 
PLANT. THE TOBACCO FLEA-BEETLE. U. S. 
Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1898: 123-128, illus. 
(6) JOHANNSEN, O. A. 
1921. EGGS OF THE POTATO FLEA-BEETLE. J0UT. 
Econ. Ent. 14: 511-512. 
(7) Metcalf, Z. P. 
1909. INSECT ENEMIES OF TOBACCO. N. C. 
Dept. Agr. Special Bui., Oct., 1909: 31-35. 
(8) -and Underhill, G. W. 
1919. the tobacco flea-beetle. N. C. Agr. 
Exp. Sta. Bui. 239, 47 p. 
(9) Morgan, A. C. 
1910. METHODS OF CONTROLLING TOBACCO INSECTS. 
U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Circ. 123, 17 p.. 
illus. 
