24 



^ 



Fig. lb.—£picauta marginala— 

 enlarged (origiual, Division 

 of Entomology) . 



tions of this blister beetle. During 1902 we received reports of 

 injuries by it in Florida to tomato, potato, sweet potato, eggplant, 

 turnip, cabbage, cowpea, and beet, beet tops 

 being preferred to all other vegetables. 



THE MARGINED BLISTER BEETLE. 



{Epicauta mavf/inata Falj. ) 



One of the commonest Eastern species is the 

 margined blister beetle (tigs. 1.5 and 16). In 

 the writers experience it 

 appears to be more partial 

 to beets than to any other 

 useful plant. Entire plant- 

 ings are often seen almost 

 completely defoliated. In 

 a climate like that of the 

 District of Columbia, it occurs so late that no ma- 

 terial harm is done, the roots having made nearly 

 complete growth when the insect appears in its 

 greatest abundance, in late July and in August. 

 It is known as an important enemy of. beans, potato, and tomato, and 

 attacks aster, clematis, and other ornamental plants. 



THE GRAY BLISTER BEETLE. 



(Epicauta cinerea Forst. ) 



This species (fig. IT) is of the same form and 

 general structure as the preceding, but is of a 

 uniform gray color, lacking 

 the sutural and lateral mar- 

 gins which give the name 

 to the margined blister 

 beetle. The habits of the 

 two species are practically 

 identical; in fact, the latter 

 is believed by some to be 

 only a variety of the mar- 

 gined species. 



Fig. 16. — Epicauta margi- 

 nata : pupa — enlarged 

 (original, Division of 

 Entomology). 



Fig. 17. — Epicauta cinerea — 

 about twice natural size 

 (original, Division of En- 

 tomology). 



THE SPOTTED BLISTER BEETLE. 



{Epicauta maculata Say.) 

 The southwestern portion of the United States 



Fig. 18.— Epicauta macu- 

 lata — nearly three times 

 natural size (original, 

 Division of Entomology). 



is the home of many species of blister beetles not 

 found in the North and East. Among the most abundant of these is 

 the spotted blister beetle (tig. 18). Its ])ody is covered with fine gray 

 hairs, with small rounded areas on the elytra, through which the 



