INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS < >F CALIFORNIA. 



277 



species of Datura, Burgmansia, Oestrum aurantiacum and garden and 

 ornamental plants. 



Control.— A poison spray composed of 6 to 10 pounds of neutral 

 arsenate of lead to 100 gallons of water is effective if thoroughly and 

 repeatedly applied. Clean culture with special regard to eliminating 

 non-cultivated host plants is very important. 



Natural Enemy.— Dr. F. B. Blaisdell 192 reports the rapacious soldier- 

 bug, Sinea diadema Fab. as predaceous upon the larvae of the beetle. 



THE TWO-STRIPED LEAF-BEETLE 



Lit pe nulls bivittatus Leconte 



(Fig. 269) 



Description. — The beetle is slightly smaller than the Western striped 

 cucumber beetle. Diabrotica trivittata Mann., for which it is often 

 mistaken. The head, thorax, 

 antennae and legs are light 

 amber yellow ; the eyes, abdo- 

 men and elytra are black, the 

 latter having two wide longi- 

 tudinal yellow stripes and a 

 narrow yellow margin, as shown 

 in Fig. 269. It averages T % inch 

 in length. 



Life History. — The life his- 

 tory of this beetle is unknown. 

 The adults appear early in the 

 spring and are often abundant 

 in the orchards and in the 

 flowers of the buckeye through- 

 out the spring and early summer 

 months. 



Nature of Work.— The adults 

 eat irregular holes in the leaves. 



Distribution. — The two-striped leaf-beetle is quite common through- 

 out the State. 



Food Plants. — The California buckeye is one of the normal food 

 plants, but the beetle also frequently attacks the foliage of almond, 

 apricot and prune trees. 



Control. — Though this insect is often quite abundant, it has never 

 proven to be serious enough to warrant the cost of control measures. 



Fig. 2f>0. — The two-striped leaf-beetle, Lupe- 

 rodes bivittatus Lee. Adult, greatly enlarged. 



(Original) 



THE WESTERN BEET LEAF-BEETLE 

 Mono.ria consputa Leconte 



(Fig. 2 70) 



Description. — The adults are pale yellowish-brown, perfectly plain 

 or with irregular dark markings on the dorsum. They are about ( 1 ; 

 inch long. Descriptions or specimens of the immature stages were not 

 available. 



2 Blaisdell, F. E., Insect Life, V, p. 35, 1892. 



