570 Statk Board ok Aguiculture, &c. 



in Central Illinois swarming witli this beetle, and more than 

 once in places where the Colorado beetle had not done very 

 great damage this has come and wholly destroyed the crop. 

 It seems to be somewhat periodical in its attacks, for some 

 seasons it will be quite scarce, and otliers very abundant. 

 Aside from the Colorado beetle, this striped blister beetle 

 has done far more injury to potatoes than any other insect. 

 As remedies against this beetle, Paris green would prob- 

 ably be effectual, l)ut it is less expensive and troublesome 

 to drive them oft' into a fire. In the hot part of the day 

 these beetles take flight very readily, and if straw or hay 

 be strewed around the field, they will most of them take 

 refuge in it if driven from the potatoes, and may then be 

 burned with it. Tbis method has sometimes, I believe 

 usually, proved entirely satisfactory, and might be em- 

 ployed in the destruction of some other insects. As these 

 beetles do not appear till the latter part of July, or first of 

 August, early potatoes will suffer less from their attacks 

 than later varieties. 



Another blister beetle, Lytta Cinerea, Fabr, that some- 

 times attacks potatoes, is also found in Yermont. It is about 

 one-half inch long, of ash gray color over the upper part of 

 the body, while tlie antennae and legs are black. The whole 

 insect is really black, the gray appearance being due to a 

 light down which may be rubbed off leaving a pure black 

 surface. It appears the last of June and attacks the leaves 

 of the bean, honey locust, apple, the young fruit of the latter, 

 and the leaves of the potato. Harris says that it is more 

 troublesome than any other blister beetle in Massachusetts, 

 sometimes appearing in large numbers, but I do not know 



