INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS < >F CALIFORNIA. 



269 



ground also destroys large numbers of them. Burning old stalks and 

 rubbish during the winter will eliminate many of the hibernating adults. 

 Natural Enemies. — The young of the ladybird beetles, Megilla macu- 

 lata fuscildbris and Ilippodamia convergens, prey upon the young 

 larva?. In the East the spined soldier-bug (Podisus maculiventris Say) 

 and the bordered soldier-bug (Stiretrus anchorago Fab.), as well as 

 certain other insects, also feed upon the larvae. 



THE RED AND YELLOW LEAF-BEETLE 

 Vryptocephalus castaneus Leconte 



(Fig. 260) 



Description. — The beetles are short and robust, some specimens 

 being almost cylindrical in shape and j% inch long. They are dull red 

 with bright yellow longitudinal stripes 

 on the prothorax and yellow markings 

 on the head, elytra and under side of 

 the body. The legs and antennae are 

 reddish, the latter being very slender 

 and nearly as long as the body. 



Life History. — The life history is 

 not known. The beetles appear upon 

 the plants during the early spring, 

 where they continue to feed through- 

 out the summer. 



Nature of Work.— The adults eat 

 small holes in the foliage of the host 

 plants. 



Distribution. — The species occurs 

 throughout the State and is specially 

 common in the interior valleys. 



Food Plants. — The writer has taken 

 the beetles from the following plants : wild and cultivated blackberries 

 and roses and wild liquorice. The normal food plant is the willow, 

 according to Dr. Van Dyke. 



Control.— As the beetles drop from the plants if only slightly dis- 

 turbed, they are easily captured on sheets or upon tanglefoot paper by 

 jarring. Evening appears to be the best time to do this. 



Fig. 260. — The red and yellow leaf- 

 beetle, Cryptocephalus castaneus Lee. 

 Adults, enlarged nearly three times. 

 (Original) 



