258 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



vetches and almost any i)lunt of tl>e j)»'a or bean family, and as there ii.sually is plenty 

 of available food of this and other sorts, they remained here unnoticed, occasionally 

 appearing in numbers on alsike, etc. 



\Vitli tlie advent of the sii<;ar beet, the blister beetles were provided with another 

 .source of food very much to tlieir taste, and one wliicli tlicy seemed to i)refer to most 

 others. As a rule, the blister l)eeties appear durint^ tlic latter iialf of July ami become 

 numerous during August and September, devouring the leaves and often doing consider- 

 able damage. 



All this looks very bad. but when we inquire into the early history ot the insect, 

 we find a very good record wliieh licips us materially to forgive a part of the latter 

 depredation. The young blister beetle of tlie varieties noticed here, passes iiis larval 

 stivge in the egg-pod of one of the grasshoppers, devouring usually from 30 to 40 eggs, 

 after which he burrows a short distance into the ground, passes through the pupal 

 stage, and comes out ready to collect pay of the farmer. 



All the common blister beetles of this region, except the steel-l)lue one (Melor), have 

 this beneficial habit, so when we see a blister beetle eating our crops, we may be certain 

 that he represents from 25 to 40 grasshoppers, literally nipped in the bud. This fact 

 should have its influence in considering the insect, and so long as the number of the 

 beetles is small, and tlie crop does not appear to be sutl'ering. it is perhaps well to 

 forbear destroying them. However, should they become numerous, and sliould tliere 

 seem to be danger of damage, the best course is to remove them with a si)ray. 



Fig. 10. Blister beetle, A'picajfia ci/ierea. (Original.; 



There are three varieties which have been reported as injurious during tlie season 

 of 1899, — Epicaiita cincra. Fig. 10, and its variety concolor, and E. pennsi/lvfmica. 

 The last named species is tlie one found so abundantly in the early fall in the heads of 

 golden-rod. 



REMEDIES. 



When the danger of real injury becomes apparent, there is usually little difficulty 

 in ridding the plants by a spray of Paris green and lime, applied at the rate of one 

 pound of the poison to 175 gallons of water. Often the beetles will keep coming in 

 from the outs' de, and when the first spray has lost its effect from rain, or other 

 cause, it may be necessary to repeat the treatment. 



