BLISTER BEETLES IN KANSAS. 25 



was sprayed, 1 pound of Paris green a nd some lime in 25 gallons of 

 water being used. Another half-barrel of the solution was then pre- 

 pared, the nozzles were changed for others having smaller openings, 

 and the spraying was completed, only about a third of the second 

 half-barrel of solution being used. The next morning dead beetles 

 were numerous among the bases of the leaves and under clods. Those 

 that remained alive were mostly stupid and helpless. The beetles 

 were Epicauta cinerea and Macrobasis unicolor, which are of only 

 medium size. 



On July 25, 1914, a test was started at the Garden City branch of 

 the Kansas Experiment Station on two tenth-acre plats that had 

 been attacked by blister beetles to determine the comparative value of 

 spraying and dusting. Paris green was used as a spray, 1 pound to 

 25 gallons of water ; as a dust, 1 pound to 5 pounds of powdered lime ; 

 and lead arsenate was used as a dust without dilution. Part of each 

 plat was treated with each formula. There was no perceptible dif- 

 ference in results. Of the small beetles {Epicauta maculata) a large 

 percentage were killed, but of the large ones {Macrobasis segmentata 

 Say, and Macrobasis immaculata) more escaped than were killed. 



DRIVING. 



When disturbed while feeding blister beetles drop or climb down 

 rapidly to the ground and run away, sometimes traveling several 

 yards before stopping to feed. Fields that are attacked by them may 

 often be saved hy taking advantage of this habit and driving them off. 

 Several persons form a line and advance through the field, knocking 

 the beetles from the plants with brooms, sticks, or pieces of brush. 

 The advance should be slow, allowing time for killing any beetles that 

 fall behind. At Garden City five persons in half a day drove the 

 beetles out of 25 acres of beets. The method is to be recommended 

 where most of the beetles are of the large varieties, where the plants 

 are small and unable to survive defoliation if it occurs, or where for 

 any reason immediate results must be secured. It is not practicable 

 where abundant foliage affords concealment for the beetles. 



SUMMARY OF CONTROL MEASURES. 



Attacks b} T the smaller beetles are easily controlled by spraying 

 with 1 pound of Paris green with lime in from 25 to 40 gallons of 

 water. Manj r of the larger species are killed by the stronger solu- 

 tion. Dusting with 1 pound of Paris green to 5 pounds of powdered 

 lime or with pure lead arsenate is effective against the small beetles, 

 but can not be recommended against the larger ones. Driving the 

 beetles out of the field is recommended wherever the work of the 

 beetles must be checked at once. 



