98 



Say's blister beetle (Pompfaypcea sayi Lee, fig-. 6). — April 29, 

 1901, Mr. R. J. Black, Bremen, Ohio, sent specimens, as did the other 

 correspondents who will presently be mentioned in connection with 

 this and other species, stating that the beetles were found in great 

 numbers devouring blossoms of Japan plum. The species had not 

 been noticed in previous years, and other varieties of plum, cherry, 

 and peach were not affected. May 13, Mr. C. W. Nash, Toronto, 

 Canada, also reported this species on plum doing great damage to the 

 blossoms. 



The pear-tree blister beetle (Pomphopoea aenea Say). — May 1, 

 1901, Mr. Joseph Hampson, jr., reported this species to be destroying 

 the petals, stamens, and pistils of pear blossoms at Pen Mar, Pa. An 

 invasion of this species on pear was recorded as occurring in central 

 eastern Ohio in 1894 (Ins. Life, Vol. VII, p. 201). In 1898 and 1899 it 



was reported to be destroying the blos- 

 soms of young plum at Wooster, Ohio, 

 and Tazewell, Tenn. 



The Texas plum blister beetle 

 (Pomphopoea texana Lee). — March 18, 

 1902, Mr. David Hunter, San Antonio, 

 Tex., wrote of the occurrence of this 

 blister beetle on plum in that vicinity. 

 Six years earlier our correspondent had 

 noticed this beetle feeding on Chicka- 

 saw plum in Blanco County of the same 

 State. 



The Peach Blister Beetle (Pom- 

 phopoea unguioularis Lee). — April 8, 

 1902, Mr. Franklin Sherman, jr., wrote 

 of the occurrence of this blister beetle 

 at Blowing Rock, N. C, on wild moun- 

 tain laurel, devouring both blossoms and leaves. It occurred there 

 literally by thousands, attacking also peach trees, eating those which 

 had previously been attacked by leaf curl. The beetles also affected 

 cultivated roses to such an extent that one owner had to resort to 

 spraying to save them. In Volume VI of Insect Life (p. 36) we 

 recorded the occurrence of this species in immense numbers at White- 

 sides, N. C, where the}' denuded the locust, Robin ia viscosa, of foliage. 

 This was at an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level, and occurred in 

 1893. 



Remedies. — All of these blister beetles undoubtedly feed, in nature, 

 on the blossoms of wild fruits, such as plum, mountain laurel, and the 

 like. On low trees it is not difficult to control them by hand-picking. 

 On higher trees they can be destroyed by means of a spray of Paris 

 green applied in the usual manner. On peach, however, arsenate of 

 lead is best, owing to the danger of scorching the tender foliage of 



Fig. 6.—Pomphopcea sayi: beetle, 1\ times 

 natural size (original). 



