39D 
surprisingly like a cluster of dried and flattened eggs, and it was at first suspected 
that they might be those of Platypsyllus, for which we have been looking for many 
years, but upon examination they proved to be much too large, and are undoubtedly 
epithelial cells which have been cast off. Their resemblance to eggs or minute co- 
coons is, however, very striking and deceptive —[May 31, 1892.] 
Blister Beetles in Texas. 
FIRST LETTER.—Inclosed find some insects which the natives call the Spanish Fly. 
They prove very destructive to Irish potatoes, and when those are not to be had, toma- 
toes, beets, etc., arenot despised. They donotseem to breed here. A patch of potatoes 
at night might not have an insect in it, but in the morning they are covered. They 
feed together in swarms and seldom fly in the daytime. They will commence to feed 
on one row and follow it clear across and do not often jump across to adjoining rows 
till the end of the patch is reached. We kill them mostly with hot water and burn 
them with coal-oil fires on a long stick with aswab saturated. Iam now trying 
Paris green. They are feeding on potatoes where applied, but appear as lively as. 
ever.—[ William Pocock, Texas, May 22, 1892. 
RepLty.—* ~ * The insect which is damaging your potatoes is one of the Blis- 
ter Beetles known as Epicauta lemniscata, previously referred to in the current vol- 
ume on page 77. Your neighbors are nearly right in calling them the ‘ Spanish 
Fly,” as they belong to the same family and possess in some degree the same vesica- 
ting properties. This, and several allied species, frequently do considerable damage: 
throughout the Western States to the potato crop, as well as to beans and many gar- 
den vegetables. The Paris green treatment which you have begun is comparatively 
successful, and although at first you may be unable to see any markedly beneficial 
results a little persistence on your part will eventually rid your vines of the insect. 
In some parts of the West the plan has been followed of driving the insects with the. 
- wind into a windrow of hay or straw or other dried vegetation, which is then burned. 
The beetles do not breed upon the potato, but in their early stages are parasitic upon 
the eggs of locusts and other insects.—[May 28, 1892.] 
SECOND LETTER.—I send specimens of an insect which reached here last night in 
considerable numbers, and which immediately began an attack on various plants, 
and the name of which I would like to know.—[J. O. Skinner, Surgeon U. S. Army, 
Texas, May 13, 1892. 
Repty.— * * ~ The insect is one of our large Blister Beetles knows as Macro- 
basis atrivittata Lec. This and other species are frequently abundantin the Western 
States, and when occurring in numbers often do great damage to cultivated crops. 
They are most interesting from a biologic standpoint, from the fact that they are 
hypermetamorphotic, the larve undergoing several distinct metamorphoses. They 
are, in the main, parasitic in their early stages on the eggs of locust.—[May 18, 1892. } 
The Twelve-spotted Asparagus Beetle. 
Isend some insects which are on the asparagus plants on a farm adjoining mine. 
I have examined five other beds on neighboring farms and do not find them on any 
of the other beds. The Asparagus Beetle was very thick on this bed, so the owner, 
Mr. Veach, cut down every stalk save about four, which he left for experiments. He: 
cuts now as fast as itis fit. This red beetle appears in considerable numbers on the 
stalks that are left, but does not seem to eat either the asparagus or the larvee of the 
Asparagus Beetle. What are they and what do they feed on? Are they injurious or 
not ?—[A. P. Gordon-Cumming, Carroll County, Md., June 6, 1892. 
REPLY.—The insect is congeneric with the Asparagus Beetle and is known scien- 
tifically as Crioceris 12-punctatus. Like the Asparagus Beetle it is a comparatively 
recent importation from Europe, and was first noticed near Baltimore. It spreads 
slowly and still occupies only a limited region in Maryland and the District of Co- 
lumbia. It feeds upon asparagus in allof its stages, and is not known to have 
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