BLISTER BEETLES IN KANSAS. 



15 



Egg and Young Larva. 

 The egg has not been secured or the growing stages of the larva recognized. 



COARCTATE LARVA. 



The average of 10 coarctate larvae was 6.875 mm. in length by 3.8 mm. in 

 width. They are reddish brown, but not so dark as those of E. cinerea, and 

 the lateral ridges are present and distinctly angular. 



Third Larva. 

 The third larvae are 7 to 8 nun. long by 2.5 to 

 3.5 mm. wide. In shape, color, and general appear- 

 ance they resemble those of Macrobasis immaculata. 

 Pupa. 

 A description of the pupa lias never been secured. 



EPICAUTA PENNSYLVANIA De G. 



Adult. 

 Epicauta Pennsylvania! (fig. 18) is the smallest 

 of the black blister beetles that occur in Kansas. 

 Of 18 specimens, the length varied from 8.5 to 14 

 mm., averaging 10.3 mm., and the width from 2 to 

 4 mm., averaging 2.88 mm. ; shape rather slender ; 

 color dull black. 



Egg. 



Fig. 18. — The black blis- 

 ter beetle (Epicauta 

 pennsylvanica) : Adult. 

 Enlarged. (Chittenden.) 



The egg resembles that of Macrobasis immaculata, but is much smaller. 



Triungulin Larva. 



Length of triungulin larva (tig. 19) about 1.3 mm.; width about 0.3 mm., 

 widest through the head about midway of its length, which is just behind the 

 eyes, and tapering to the prothorax, into which it telescopes slightly; color, 

 brownish yellow, translucent. In shape and general appearance it resembles the 

 triungulin of Macrobasis immaculata. 



None of the other larval stages have been secured, even the coarctate larva of 

 this species having escaped recognition. 



life history and habits. 



Epicauta maculata Say. 



Oviposition. 



While on the staff of the Kansas Experiment 

 Station the writer observed oviposition by a fe- 

 male of Epicauta maculata, as well as by a female 

 of Macrobasis immaculata. Both were working 

 at the same time, being discovered only a few 

 yards apart in the edge of a field. The process was 

 identical with both females, lasting from before 

 3.30 p. m. until after 6 p. m., as described under 

 M. immaculata, The cavities to receive the e^gs 

 were made exactly alike — bell-shaped, with the 

 flaring end down and the eggs reposing in a 

 further depression at the center of the bottom of 

 the bell; but the cavity made by E. 'maculata was only about 1 inch 



-Epicauta 



Fig. 19 



pennsylvanica: Tri 

 ungulin. Enlarged 



