REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 251 



showing that the species occurs from the Atlantic to the racifjc. Tlie 

 Califbruia specimens "were accomi)anie(l hy the foUowiug note : 



I semi you specimens of a small brown hcetle, Tvliich is very dt-striietive io (li;i- 

 ca«aas (ami palms lightly), oranges, Cape jeHsaniitie, ami acliyrauthus, in the ordsr 

 nauietl, although lie ■will taUe breakfast on almost anything tiiat comes hamly. — J. M. 

 AsHER, San Diego, Cal. 



A wire- worm or click-beetle larva was found preying- upon the larvae of 

 this beetle in our breeding cages. We did not succeed in rearing the 

 larva to the perfect state, but believe it to be the larva of Brasferius 

 aniaMlis, Lee. 



Nuttall's ELiSTER-BEETLE((7«wf/mmM«fZrtZZt,Say). — This is a large 

 and very beautiful insect, of a bright green color, with golden-purple 

 wing covers. Plate VI, fig. 6 represents its size and form. The species 

 is a Avestern form; its habitat extending from the Mississippi Kiver to 

 the Kocky Mountains. I received specimens from William H. Leverett, 

 of Fargo, Bak., July 18, through the kiudnesa of the secretary of the 

 Elmira (N. Y.) Farmers' Club. Mr. Leverett states that this beetle is 

 very destructive to beans, and that " it comes in quantities, alights on 

 the beans, eats the bud and entirely spoils the beans." 



In case this pest becomes abundant it will be well to try the same 

 remedy for it that is used against the different species of blister-beetles 

 that attack potatoes in the east, which is to drive them into wdndrows 

 of straw and then kill them by burning the straw; or, as they frequently 

 occur in swarms, they may be caught in large numbers by a hand net 

 and then destroyed. 



It should be noted that, although this insect now appears to be a pest, 

 were its larval habits known we might regard it differently. The larvae 

 of several sj^ecies of blister-beetles have been known to feed upon locust 

 eggs ; and this species may yet be added to the list of beneficial insects. 

 And even now, possessing, as it doubtless does, the same vesicating 

 powers exhibited Ijy its congener, tbc Spanish-fly {Cantharis vesicatoriaj 

 Linn), it should be classed among the useful i)roducts of the country. 



The CR0T7 blister-beetle {Eincaufa corvina, Lee). — Tliis is another 

 western form. It is similar in form to the jireceding species, but it is 

 of a deep black color, which suggests its specific name. Specimens 

 were received from Mr. F. A. Weutz, of Kinsley, Kans., June 27, with 

 the statement that they were injurious to potatoes. As to remedies, 

 what was said respecting Nuttall's blister-beetle will probably apply 

 equally as well to this species. 



The black blister-beetle {Epkauta pcnnsylvanica, De Geer). — 

 This beetle is also of a deep black color ; but it is much smaller than the 

 preceding species, measuring from three-eighths inch to one-half inch in 

 length (9'"°'-12"™). Specimens were received from Mr. P .P. Light, of 

 Osborne, Ohio, September 1, with the note that they were eating up all of 

 his sugar beets. This insect is often reported as doing damage to potato 

 vines, and is found frequently on the llowers of golden-rod; but I can 

 find no recorded instance of its proving destructive to beets. 



The same remedies can be used for this insect as for other blister- 

 beetles. 



This is one of the species of blister-beetles the larva of which was 

 found by Professor Eiley to prey upon the eggs of the Rocky Mountain 

 locust {Galoptenus sjtretns) ; and the medicinal properties of this beetle 

 have been proven to be quite as good as those of the Spanish-fly of 

 commerce. 



In Southern Europe, especially in Spain and Italy, Spanish flies are 

 collected in great numbers for exportation. The method of preparing 



