. Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture. Agriculture. J^^'^i^U Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology L. O. HOWARD, Chief. Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER February 7, 1917 THE DESERT CORN FLEA-BEETLE. By V. L. WiLDEBMUTH, Entomologicol Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations. CONTENTS. Introduction 1 Distribution 2 Economic considerations 2 Foodplaaits 4 Descriptions 5 Life history and habits 7 Seasonal history 15 Natural enemies 16 Remedial and preventive measures 18 Summary 21 INTRODUCTION. For a number of years past reports have been received by the Bureau of En
. Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture. Agriculture. J^^'^i^U Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology L. O. HOWARD, Chief. Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER February 7, 1917 THE DESERT CORN FLEA-BEETLE. By V. L. WiLDEBMUTH, Entomologicol Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations. CONTENTS. Introduction 1 Distribution 2 Economic considerations 2 Foodplaaits 4 Descriptions 5 Life history and habits 7 Seasonal history 15 Natural enemies 16 Remedial and preventive measures 18 Summary 21 INTRODUCTION. For a number of years past reports have been received by the Bureau of Entomology of considerable damage to corn, milo maize, and related crops by a small black beetle, Ghaetocnema ectypa Horn, which, because of the fact that it is a native of the southwestern desert regions, has been named the desert corn flea-beetle (fig. 1, p. 5). The writer first noted this small black beetle in the spring of 1910, while located on a ranch in the extreme southern part of Cahfomia. In a field which had been planted to Indian corn, as an experiment on the productiveness of this corn in the newly irrigated Imperial Valley, it was noticed that within a few days after the corn came through the ground the leaves became whitened and bleached, appar- ently as a result of the work of some insect, and upon closer investi- gation this beetle was found to be the cause. Subsequently the work of this flea-beetle was noticed on various Egyptian corns and sorghums as well as on sweet corn in various localities, not only in southern California but also in southern Aiizona and New Mexico. The study of the habits, life history, and methods of controlUng this insect was commenced in the Imperial Valley of Cahfornia in 1910, and during 1913, 1914, and 1915 has been conducted at Tempe, Ariz,^ The following pages comprise a report of these studies and obser- vations upon the economic status of this species in the Southwestern States. ' The writer was assisted during a part of the time
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