1912 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 87 



Epicauta sericans Lee. This species, some years, occurs in large numbers 

 in Manitoba. Mr. IST. Criddle states that at Awenie;, Man., where it is present on 

 the dry prairies, that it is in no way injurious, but that, on the contrary, it is 

 beneficial, as it seems to confine itself almost entirely to lambs' quarters. The 

 native food plant is apparently the Crocus Anemone, Anemone nuttalUana, on 

 which Mr. Criddle has frequently found tlie adults feeding. This is a small grayish 

 Sj.ecies about three-eighths of an inch in length. 



Epicauta puncticollis Mann. In British Columbia this species is some- 

 times fairly abundant. Eev. G. W. Taylor has found the beetles on Vancouver 

 Island, and Mr. A. J. Hill has collected specimens at New Westminster. 



Epicauta fissilabus Lee. This species has been collected on June 6, at 

 Saskatoon, Sask., by Mr. T. N. Willing. 



Epicauta trichus Pall- Mr. Norman Criddle has collected this species at 

 Aweme, Man., (June 19, 31). 



Cantharis viridana Lee. Fletcher has taken this species at Aweme, Man., 

 in the middle of July, at Eudy, Sask., in the same month, and also at Medicine 

 Hat, Alta., on June 20tlh. This species measures about half an inch in length. It 

 is of a green or bluish-green colour, the head and thorax having a metallic coppery 

 reflection. 



Canthahis sph^ricolt.ts Say. This blister beetle is some years rather 

 abundant in British Columbia. We have had it sent in, in fair numbers, from near 

 Kamloops, B.C. (July 31), and also from Vernon, B.C. It is greenish-blue in 

 colour ard in length about half an inch. 



Caxthai?is coopert Lee. A series of this beetle was sent to the Division some 

 years ago, from Indian Head, Sask. It is very distinct from any of tihe above 

 species, the wing covers being black and the head and thorax reddish-yellow. 



REMEDIES. 



In the older provinces, where potatoes are so largely grown, little injury from 

 the attacks of blister beetles should result if the vines are sprayed regularly with the 

 ordinary poisoned Bordeaux mixture* so widely used for fungi and leaf-eating in- 

 sects. In the western provinces, however, where fortunately the Colorado Potato 

 Beetle does not yet occur in very destructive numbers, no regular treatment of potato 

 fields is practised, and consequently when these beetles appear suddenly in large 

 swarms, the damage is done^ in many instances before the farmer knows tliat the 

 insects are upon his crop. As is well known, blister beetles, in their larval state, 



♦Bordeaux mixture is made as follows: — 



Copper sulphate (blue-stone) 4 lbs. 



Lime (fresh) 4 lbs. 



Paris green 4 oz 



Water (1 barrel) 40 gallons 



Dissolve the copper sulphate (by suspending it inside a wooden or earthen vessel 

 containing 4 or 5 or more gallons of water). Slake the lime in another vessel. If the 

 lime, when slaked is lumpy or granular, it should be strained through coarse sacking 

 or a fine sieve. Pour the copper sulphate solution into a barrel, or it may be dissolved 

 in this in the first place; half fill the barrel with water, add the slaked lime, fill the 

 barrel with water and stir thoroughly. It is then ready for use. 



A stock solution of copper sulphate and milk of lime may be prepared and kept in 

 separate covered barrels throughout the spraying season. The quantities of copper 

 sulphate, lime and water should be carefully noted. 



