INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA, 



293 



THE LARGE BLACK BLISTER BEETLE 



Lytta insperata (Horn) 

 (Cantharis insperata Horn) 



(Fig. 288) 



Description. — The beetles are shiny black with often a rich blue 

 metallic luster. There is a very small but distinct red spot near the 

 middle of the face, just above the eyes. The ventral surface of the 

 body is clothed with 

 very fine, short, light 

 hairs. T h e females 

 average about f inch 

 long and the males 

 about | inch long. 



Life History. -The 

 life habits of this 

 beetle have not been 

 studied. The adults 

 appear in great num- 

 bers in May and be- 

 come so thick as to be 

 quite injurious. 



Nature of Work.— 

 The beetles strip the 

 plants of their foli- 

 age, entirely ruining the small hosts and 

 of large ones. 



Distribution. — The beetle occurs throughout the southern part of 

 the State. 



Food Plant.— During the latter part of May and the firs' of April. 

 1914, K. S. Vaile recorded this beetle as doing much damage to the 

 sugar beets at Oxnard, Ventura County. 



Control. — The attacks of this beetle are infrequent and then for only 

 a short period, if serious, poison sprays (neutral arsenate of lead, 

 4 pounds to 50 gallons of water) might be tried in the infested areas. 

 A hopper-dozer run over the beets might also catch large numbers, but 

 ii employed a rather heavy distillate oil should be used in the pan. 



Fig. 288. — The large black blister beetle, Lytta insue 

 rata (Horn). Males and females, enlarged one and one 

 hal* times. Specimens leceived from R. S. Vaile, Oxnard. 

 (Original) 



treatly retarding the growth 



THE INFERNAL BLISTER BEETLE 



Lytta stygica (Leconte) 

 (Cantharis stygica Leconte) 



(Fig. 289) 



Description. — The beetle varies in color from black to metallic 

 prussian-blue or brilliant metallic green throughout and is from £ to 

 nearly 4 inch in length. Fig. 289 shows the general characteristics 

 very well. 



Life History. — The life history of this species is not well known. 

 The adults often appear in great numbers during the summer and do 

 considerable damage to growing plants. 



