Cjje Canadian Entomologist 



VOL. XII. LONDON, ONT., DECEMBER, 1880. No. 12 



NOTES ON LYTTA (BLISTER-BEETLES). 



BY E. W. CLAYPOLE, YELLOW SPRING^ OHIO. 



During the present summer three species of Lyita have been very 

 abundant and destructive here. The Striped Blister-beetle ( Lytta vittata) 

 in the early part of the season, about the end of June, began to do 

 mischief to the Potato plants, especially where they were weedy. Later 

 on, about the middle of July, this species was joined by the White-edged 

 Blister-beetle (L. marginata), and both together fell upon the later kinds 

 of Potato (in my garden the Buckeye). Now (August) the Black Blister- 

 beetle ( L. airata) may be seen in company with the former two where a 

 few belated plants afford them any green fodder. The last mentioned of 

 the three, however, did not arrive in time to do any serious harm to the 

 Potato, but turned its attention to a large bed of Sunflower belonging to 

 my children, and are preying upon their yellow petals greedily. From 

 twelve to twenty may be often seen upon a single plant. 



All these three species " play 'possum " when frightened, but not all 

 in the same way. The black one drops from the plant as does the 

 Colorado Beetle ( D. lO-lincata), but does not fold in its legs and antennae 

 and roll about. It lies just where it falls for some seconds, with limbs in 

 the position in which they were when it dropped. The white-edged and 

 striped species fall as if struck dead, but always alight on their feet or gain 

 them immediately, and stand looking warily about them. If no danger 

 seems near, or if an attack is made upon them, they run, and having the 

 longest legs of the group, they run fast and are difficult to catch. But 

 their bodies being soft, they are easily crushed. Their juices, as their 

 name implies, are exceedingly blistering, and soon raise a water blister 

 on the skin if applied to it. Hence they are often used locally as a. sub- 

 stitute for the Spanish Fly. 



The presence and voracity of these Blister-beetles make it very difficult 

 to keep a bed of potatoes clean by hand-picking of any kind, but of 

 course Paris Green or London Purple is as destructive to them as to the 



