344 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Life History. In a small cavity in the earth the female beetle 

 lays some four or five hundred eggs, these being deposited from 

 July to October. About ten days later the eggs hatch, and 

 from them emerge some small but very active larvae, with long 

 legs, large heads, and strong jaws. 



They at once commence running about in search of the pod- 

 like masses of grasshoppers' eggs, and as soon as one is found the 

 larva enters it and commences a hearty meal. As soon as his 

 appetite has been somewhat satisfied he sheds his skin, and now 



being surrounded by food and no lon- 

 ger needing his long running legs, they 

 are changed for very short, aborted 

 legs, 'and the larva is soft and sluggish. 

 In another week a second molt takes 

 place, after which the legs and even 

 t)he mouth-parts arc still more atro- 

 phied. After another molt and after 

 consuming all the eggs in the pod, the 

 larva now goes deeper in the soil, and 

 inside a small oval cavity again sheds 

 its skin, and hibernates over winter as 

 a sort of semipupa. In the spring the 

 larva appears again much like the 

 second stage, but does not eat much, 

 and soon goes into the pupal stage, from which emerges the adult 

 beetle. Altogether the life history is one of the most peculiar and 

 complicated among insects. Thus the blister-beetles are one of the 

 most important factors in holding the grasshoppers in check. 



Remedies. However, when they swarm into the bee't-fields, 

 potato- or garden-patches, one cannot afford to allow them to 

 consume one crop for the good they may do in saving another 

 from still another insect scourge. " A bird in the hand is worth 

 two in the bush," is equally true of insects. So be ready for them 

 on their first appearance; give the plants a thorough spraying 

 with of 1 pound of Paris green, and 1 pound of lime to 125 gallons 

 of water. It may be well to spray with Bordeaux mixture, 



FIG. 247.- The black blister 

 beetle (Epicauta pennsyl- 

 ranica). (After Chitten- 

 den, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



