48 
Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxvii, no, i 
HISTORY AND LITERATURE 
The Argus tortoise beetle was described, under the name Coccinella 
cassidea , by Fabricius in 1775 {f, p. 82). 
In 1869, A. S. Packard (jo, p. 504) figured the pupa and adult, with the 
statement that he had found all stages on the leaves of “silkweed” in 
July and early in August, and that in one instance in Salem, Mass., it 
occurred in abundance on raspberry. 
In 1870, Riley (ri, />. 58; 12 , p. 4) published a short note on the larva 
and adult, stating that it was found on Asclepias. 
In 1879, Harrington (2, p. 120) published a short note in which the 
species was reported as a new foe by market gardeners in Canada, where 
it occurred in immense numbers and destroyed plants and flowers. It 
was said to be first noticed on wild Convolvulus. 
In the early eighties the writer received from Ovid, N. Y., specimens 
of the larva of the Argus tortoise beetle on raspberry. 
The first record of the Bureau of Entomology is dated March 11, 1884, 
when specimens were received which were taken on the foliage of sweet 
potato at Touch Key, Fla. 
June 28, 1886, Dr. J. M. Shaffer, Keokuk, Iowa, reported numbers of 
larvae on sweet potato vines. 
In 1887, Lintner (8, p. 673) wrote of this insect under the title “ Milk¬ 
weed beetle with bad habits.” A correspondent in Chenango County, 
N. Y., stated that it was found on morning-glory, com, cabbage, and 
plantain. In Doctor Lintner’s reply he mentions other alleged food 
plants, including milkweed, mustard, and plants of the rose family. 
In 1889, J. B. Wielandy reported the species on Convolvulus at 
Springer, N. Mex., on July 13, and on June 30 attack on sweet potato 
was reported at Slatonville, Ark., by D. D. Forman. 
In 1893, Webster (14, p. 204) treated this insect as occurring on rasp¬ 
berry and blackberry. 
In 1897, the writer published what appears to be the first account of 
attack by this species on sweet potato (2, p. 23). In 1898, Webster and 
Mally (75, p. 99) mentioned its occurrence at Willard, Ohio, on straw¬ 
berry vines. In 1899 Lugger (9, p. 234) mentioned this insect as fre¬ 
quently being found on raspberry. In 1899, also, Sanderson (15, p. 140- 
142) gave a biological account of this species, with breeding records show¬ 
ing variability in the adults from the same mass of eggs. He also de¬ 
scribed the eggs, larvae, and pupae. 
July 31, 1901, specimens were received from J. P. Reynolds, North 
Haven, Me., taken on rose leaves. 
In 1905, Forbes (5, p. 192) included this species in a list of insects 
found on com. 
July 8, 1906, specimens were received from Silver Creek, N. Y., found 
on timothy, evidently an accidental occurrence. The same comment 
applies to specimens found next year in a cornfield at Arlington, Va. 
July 19, 1907, larvae were reported by I. J. Condit attacking sweet potato 
at Benning, D. C., and in that year Fall and Cockerell (4, p. 200) men¬ 
tioned its occurrence on Solanum in New Mexico. 
August 15, 1908, Otis Andrews, El Paso, Tex., reported injury to 
morning-glory and moonflower. July 22, 1909, a canning company at 
Cherry Creek, N. Y., sent specimens of pea vines on which were found 
* Reference is made by number (italic) to “literature cited," p. 50-51* 
