126 



stripes on each wing case. The outer stripe on the wing cases is 

 broader than the inner one, extends farther back, and is frequently 

 divided into two stripes by a narrow-- yellow or orange line. The an- 

 tennae, legs and under side of the body are black, but more or less cov- 

 •ered with grayish down. 



Although this species is met with as far north and east as New 

 England, yet it is more of a southern species than either of the 

 following, and is much more numerous in the Middle and Western 

 States than in the Eastern or Northern. 



This species appears occasionally in great numbers in parts of Illi- 

 nois and Missouri, proving as injurious to the potatoes in the area 

 it embraces as the Colorado potato beetle. Fortunately its attacks 

 appear to be limited, as a rule, to rather small areas, never spreading 

 ■over such a vast extent as the other. 



It has been asserted that it eats all other potato tops in preference 

 "to the peach-blows; but such apparent preferences are generally acci- 

 dental and cannot be relied upon as a rule. 



Epicauta cinerea. Forst. (Lytta marginata. Fabr.) The Marg- 

 ined Blister Beetle. 



This species varies considerably in size, is usually slightly larger 

 than the preceding, averaging three-fifths to three-fourths of an inch 

 in length, similar in form but different in color. The ground color is 

 black, the head and thorax are thickly covered with gray down, usu- 

 ally with a black spot on the upper side of each; the wing cases are 

 black with a narrow gray margin running entirely round each; the 

 legs and underside of the body are grayish. This and the previous 

 species have the second joint of the male antenna' shorter than the 

 third. 



It usually feeds upon certain wild plants, but is occasionally found 

 on potato vines. I found it quite abundant on wild plants near Bloom- 

 ington in 1875. 



Macrobasis unicolor. Xirby. The Ash-gray Blister Beetle. 



This species is rather more slender than the preceding, about half 

 an inch in length, and of uniform ash-gray eolor, except the antenna' 

 and legs, which are black; the ash color is given to it by a thick cover- 

 ing of grayish down. It is also further characterized by having the 

 second joint much longer than the third, the first and second joints 

 both being elongated. There is a black variety. 



It is a northern species, and attacks not only the patato but also 

 the honey-locust and several varieties of beans, as the English or 

 Windsor and early snap. It is common on the wild indigo weed. 



Remedies — Brushing them from the potato plants into a vessel con- 

 taining some liquid, and then killing them, is perhaps the most effec- 

 tual remedy against these species. If caught in nets and killed by 

 casting them in scalding water and then dried, they may afterwards 

 be used for blistering purposes, and are equally effectual when thus 

 •used an the imported Spanish ifly. As they fly iess of a morning or 



