BLISTER BEETLES IN KANSAS. 7 



Macrobasis it is at least half as long as the third and usually more. 

 In Epicauta it is less than half as long as the third. 



The four species of Macrobasis are easily dis- 

 tinguished, and no well-marked varieties in a ^ z ^^=^^^^ =x= ^<=^ : ' 

 species were observed. But there is great 



variation in the shade of color, especially in "V^lZZ^l 

 M. immaculata, and in the extent of the black immacuiata) : Antenna 

 submarginal stripes on the elytra in M. alhida. f ^ ale - Much en " 



• i it- larged. 



These stripes next the outer and the inner 



margin of each elytron, if present, may extend so far as to unite 



at the distal end, forming a U that opens anteriorly. The black 



stripes on the prothorax may "sometimes 

 '^^=^ = ^ C= ^~ =:C: ~ :C:= ^^ be lacking, but so rarely that it was not 



noted in the key. ■-" . 



Fl lntenaf P m^LiTvllT'' As mi g ht be expected, since Epicauta is so 



much more richly represented than Macro- 

 basis, it has greater variation within its species; also the separation 

 of the species is much more difficult. 



CHARACTER OF ADDITIONAL DATA ON MACROBASIS AND 



EPICAUTA. 



In the rearing work eggs of several species were secured in con- 

 finement and hatched, giving authentic eggs and triungulins. No 

 larvae have been carried through the growing stages. Attempts to 

 do so were thwarted by the high percentage of parasitism which 

 existed among grasshopper egg-capsules that were collected for the 

 purpose, and the writer was unable to secure eggs of grasshoppers by 

 confining them. Coarctate larva? were collected and kept under ob- 

 servation during the succeeding transformations. These yielded 

 authentic material for the identification and description of the later 

 stages. 



In presenting the data relating to each genus the species on which 

 they are most nearly complete will be considered first. 



RESULTS OF WORK ON MACROBASIS. 

 descriptive. 



Macrobasis immaculata Say. 

 Adult. 



Mawobasis immaculata is among the largest blister beetles found in Kansas. 

 A number taken at Garden City averaged 17.5 mm. long by 4.5 mm. wide. 

 Blatchley gives the limits of its variation in length as 13 to 23 mm. Color gray 

 to light reddish brown. According to Blatchley, the sexes are distinguished by 

 the third antennal joint in the male being longer than the second, but in the 

 female of only equal length or shorter. 



