114 



numerous specimens of this species, with information that they were 

 very abundant on asparagus plants nearly all summer. He had also 

 found the bugs and their young on cowpea. The same species was 

 reported on asparagus in South Carolina in 1897 (Bui. 10, n. s., p. 62). 



A note furnished by Mr. F. W. Thurow, Harvester, Tex., is of 

 interest. May 26, 1900, he reported finding this insect in consider- 

 able abundance on Irish potato and that it appeared to be "stinging" 

 the plants, causing the parts attacked to wither. July 1 our corre- 

 spondent sent adults and nymphs in next to the last stage, and stated 

 that after the potatoes were dug up the insects took to a clump of 

 spring wheat as well as to a large bush of prince's feather (Polygonum 

 orientals), which latter was threatened with its life until rescued. 

 The potato is a known food plant of this plant-bug, but wheat and 

 Polygonum do not appear to have been previously observed. 



It has been noticed b\^ the writer that this species has the same 

 habit as its congener L. oppositus of hiding when in the nymph stage 

 in the folded or wilting leaves of its food plants, shedding its skin 

 usually in such sheltered locations. A summary of food and other 

 habits of this species has been given on pages 46-18 of Bulletin No. 

 19 of this series. 



The two-spotted blister beetle (Mdcrobasis albida Say.). — Blis- 

 ter beetles of several species were prominent as vegetable pests during 

 the season and from among the many reported instances of injury 

 and attack to useful plants a few examples of new food habits that 

 have been unrecorded will be noticed. 



July 15, 1902. Mr. S. E. Russell, Duncan, Ind. T., reported that this 

 species was eating garden vegetables and had devoured his stock of 

 sugar beet in a single day. 



We have many earlier records of injury by this species which do 

 not appear to have been published. In 18S2 it was destructive to 

 tomatoes, and also fed on Solan inn eleagn ifolium at Corpus Christi, Tex. 

 The following year it injured potatoes at Gonzales. Tex. In 1892 in- 

 juries were noticed to potatoes and peas at Stowell. Hamilton County, 

 Kans. In 1896 it was troublesome at Alice, Tex., where it was 

 described by Dr. J. D. Westerveldt, jr.. as a migratory species com- 

 ing in swarms of thousands, remaining a few days, and disappearing 

 very quickly. In 1897 it was again destructive to potato at Kearney, 

 Kans. The following year it devoured the foliage of tomato at Fruit- 

 land, Tex. The occurrence of the insect has also been reported at 

 Georgetown, N. Mex., as well as in other localities in the States that 

 have previously been mentioned. Injury at Gonzales, Tex., was noted 

 as early as June 11, but the principal damage appears to be accom- 

 plished in that State through the month of July and the first part of 

 August. In Kansas injury extends also through the month of August. 



