Key to the Alabama Species of Epithrix
Epithrix cucumeris (Harris)
Epithrix brevis Schwarz*
Epithrix nitens (Horn)
Epithrix fuscula Crotch
Epithrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer)

1. Pubescence of elytra dense; easily visible….. 2
    Elytra very sparsely pubescent, nearly glabrous, only few semi-erect setae along lateral     margins near apex….. E. nitens
2. Pronotum and elytra black or mahogany brown….. 3
    Pronotum and elytra mostly red- or yellow-brown (Fig. 38)….. E. hirtipennis
3. Pronotal transverse prebasal impression indistinct and feebly delimited; pronotal punctures      close….. 4
    Pronotal transverse prebasal impression distinct and sharply delimited; pronotal punctures     not so nearly contiguous….. E. cucumeris
4. Larger (1.8-2.5 mm.); usually black or more rarely brown; pronotal punctures close, separated      by distance of about 1/4 a puncture's diameter….. E. fuscula
    Smaller (1.4-1.6 mm.); mahogany brown; pronotal punctures separated by about 1/2     puncture's diameter….. E. brevis

Epithrix cucumeris (Harris)

Haltica cucumeris Harris, 1851, Jour. of Agr. I., p. 103.
     Oblong oval, shining black or dark mahogany brown. Head shining, impunctate except for some setigerous punctures near eyes. Pronotum shining, punctate, punctures more distant from each other than their diameters; transverse subbasal impression deep, sinuate. Elytra striate-punctate, pubescent with short erect setae. Legs yellow-brown, femora with middle darker brown band, posterior femora nearly entirely darker brown.
     Alabama records: 14 specimens from Marshall¹ County.
     Seasonal distribution: July 27-28.
     Remarks: Loding's (75) record of E. cucumeris for Alabama is perhaps attributable to another species. Only a single specimen of E. cucumeris, from Iowa, was seen in his collection. Economically these beetles are known as the potato flea beetle.

Epithrix brevis Schwarz*

Epithrix brevis Schwarz, 1878, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 17: p. 367.
     Oval, mahogany brown. Head shining, faintly alutaceous, punctate with setigerous punctures near eyes. Pronotum coarsely, closely punctate; prebasal transverse impression only feebly indicated. Elytra punctate-striate with erect setae in rows. Antennae and legs yellow-brown, hind femora darker brown. Length 1.4-1.6 mm. Width 0.9-1.0 mm.
     Alabama records: 5 specimens from Lee¹, Marshall¹, and Mobile² counties.
     Seasonal distribution: April 13-December.

Epithrix nitens (Horn)

Crepidodera nitens Horn, 1889, Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 16: 240.
     Broadly oval, shining, piceous, nearly glabrous. Head with pair of large setigerous punctures near eyes, otherwise impunctate, shining. Prothorax closely punctate, prebasal impression well defined and delimited. Elytra nearly glabrous, with prominent basal callosities. Antennae yellow, legs brown. Length 2.3 mm. Width 1.4 mm.
     Alabama records: 1 specimen from Lee County.
     Seasonal distribution: May 7.
     Remarks: Epithrix nitens is unique among the Alabama species of Epithrix in being nearly glabrous.

Epithrix fuscula Crotch

Epithrix fuscula Crotch, 1873, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 25: 72.
     Oblong oval, black or more rarely brown. Head distinctly alutaceous, antennae yellow. Pronotum coarsely, closely punctate, prebasal impression poorly defined. Elytra striate-punctate, rather densely pubescent, setae white in double rows. Tibiae brown, tarsi lighter, yellow-brown. Length 1.8-2.5 mm. Width 1.1-1.4 mm.
     Alabama records: 176 specimens from Baldwin¹, Cleburne¹, DeKalb¹, Elmore¹, Houston¹, Lawrence¹, Lee¹, Macon¹, Mobile², Talladega¹, and Tallapoosa¹ counties.
     Seasonal distribution: April 24-June 21.
     Remarks: This is is the eggplant flea beetle, which also attacks potatoes. We have collected it from a thistle and from Trifolium sp.

Epithrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer)

Crepidodera hirtipennis Melsheimer, 1847, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 165.
     Elongate oval, yellow-brown with or without darker brown mid-elytral fascia. Head shining, punctate near eyes. Pronotum closely, moderately punctate, prebasal impression faintly impressed. Elytra striate-punctate, pubescent of single rows. Antennae and legs light brown. Length 1.6-1.9 mm. Width 0.9-1.1 mm.
     Alabama records: 36 species from Etowah², Lee¹, and Mobile² counties.
     Seasonal distribution: March 28-July 22.
     Remarks: Specific host plants have not been recorded. One specimen of E. hirtipennis of Loding's collection was labeled "Epithrix parvula" (sic).