FLEA BEETLE. Under the name Flea Beetle, there are several species of the Hal fleet family. The Cucumber Flea Beetle (H. coeumeris) is said to be often largely injurious to potato vines. Dr. Fitch thinks this, II. Cucurneris, and H. Pubesc,ens is the same. This species certainly attack the potato. The Striped Flea Beetle (H. orchestris vittata) is one of the most troublesome species, often entirely destroying young cabbage, turnip, radish and other crucifer ous plants. Some flowering plants, as stocks, are also attacked. Powdered lime or soot, applied when the dew lies, are ainong the popular remedies for all this class of insects; not always successful, however. London Purple or Paris Green, properly diluted, is efficient, but should not be applied to cabbage, radish, etc. It may be very much more diluted than when used for the Colorado Potato Beetle. Crueiferous plants may be treated with powdered white hellebore.
The dreaded Grape-vine Flea Beetle, Haltica (graptodera)chalybea, (see cut) is another member of this family of insects, a, grape leaf and larva feeding; b, larva magnified; c, earth-cell in which the insect transforms; (I, beetle; the hair lines show natural size. This is sometimes called the
Steel Blue Beetle, and in the vineyards about St. Louis aud South is often most destructive. Hellebore powder is also destructive to this insect. There are many so-called Flea Beetles from their power of leaping, as the cabbage, and turnip, and the cucumber Flea Beetle, aud jumping beetles, are similar to the ordinary eye; some of them are exceedingly minute, and some times so abundant that the foliage of young plants will be black with them, but this is uncommon. On very young plants of the cabbage or cucum ber families, there is no objection to the use of dilute Paris Green or London Purple.