BLISTER BEETLES IX KANSAS. 



the bull-thistle (Cirswm lanceolatum) and on account of their inter- 

 grading color patterns could easily have been referred to a single 

 species. They were not observed in any injurious connection, and 

 their immature stages were not found. 



The tribe Cantharini was represented by three genera — Macrobasis, 

 Epicauta, and Cantharis. To Macrobasis and Epicauta belong the 

 injurious species occurring at Garden City, Kans., and they are 

 treated at length in this paper. Of the genus Cantharis only one 

 species was identified, Cantharis reticulata Say, of which a very 

 few specimens were collected. They are 

 sufficient for- only a brief description. 



Description of Cantharis reticulata 

 Say. 



Adult. 



Length, about 15 to 25 mm. ; width, about 

 4.5 to 7 mm. ; color black, except antenna? and 

 legs, which are dark brown. Elytra irregularly 

 ridged, hence the name ; head, thorax, and 

 abdomen pitted and sparsely haired; legs 

 thickly haired. (Fig. 2.) 



The adults were taken on the bush 

 morning-glory (Ipomoea leptophylla) , 

 excepting one which was found on 

 alfalfa. 



Besides Cantharis reticulata, the tribe Cantharini is represented 

 at Garden City by at least 15 species, of which four belong to the 

 genus Macrobasis and 11 to Epicauta. For the purposes of this 

 paper the generic and specific distinctions are sufficiently set forth 

 by the ke} T , which has been adapted from Horn with the assistance 

 of H. S. Barber, of the United States National Museum. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF EPICAUTA AND MACROBASIS COLLECTED AT GARDEN CITY, 



KANS. 



A. Second joint of antennas at least half as long as third Macrobasis. 



a. Black with posterior margins of abdominal segments gray. 



M. segmentate/, Say. 

 aa. Gray, yellowish, or brownish, unicolorous or with markings. 



b. Prothorax usually with two longitudinal black stripes ; elytra 

 usually concolorous, sometimes with submarginal black stripes ; 



basal joints of antenna? brown (fig. 3) M. albida Say. 



bb. Unicolorous. 



c. First joint of antennae as long as or longer than the sec- 

 ond and third together. In the male it reaches to the 

 occiput, and the second is at least twice as long and 



twice as thick as the third M. unicolor Kirby. 



cc. First joint of antennse similar in sexes, second joint 

 shorter than third -1/. vmmaculata Say. 



Fig. 



\. — Cantharis reticulata . 

 Adult. Enlarged. 



