u 
Fig. 15. — jEpicauta viawluata— 
enlarged (original, Division 
of Entomology) . 
tions of this blister beetle. During 1902 we. received reports of 
injuries by it in Florida to tomato, potato, sweet potato, eggplant, 
turnip, cabbage, cowpea, and beet, beet tops 
\ \ y / being preferred to all other vegetables. 
THE MARGINED BLISTER BEETLE. 
{Epicauta marginata Fab. ) 
One of the commonest Eastern species is the 
margined blister beetle (figs. 15 and 16). In 
the writer's experience it 
appears to be more partial 
to beets than to an}^ other 
useful plant. Entire plant- 
ings are often seen almost 
completely defoliated. In 
a climate like that of the 
District of Columbia, it occurs so late that no ma- 
terial harm is done, the roots having made nearly 
complete growth when the insect appears in its 
greatest abundance, in late July and in August. 
It is known as an important enem}^ of beans, potato, and tomato, and 
attacks aster, clematis, and other ornamental plants. 
THE GRAY BLISTER BEETLE. 
(Epicauta cinerea Forst. ) 
This species (fig. 17) is of the same form and 
general structure as the preceding, but is of a 
uniform gray color, lacking 
the sutural and lateral mar- 
gins which give the name 
to the margined blister 
beetle. The habits of the 
two species are practically 
identical; in fact, the latter 
is believed by some to be 
only a variety of the mar- 
gined species. 
Fig. 16. — Epicauta margi- 
nata : pupa — enlarged 
(original, Division of 
Entomology). 
Fig. 11.— Epicauta cinerea— 
about twice natural size 
(original, Division of £n- 
tomologjO- 
THE SPOTTED BLISTER BEETLE. 
Fig. 18.— Epicauta macit- 
{ Epicauta maculata Bay.) . tata— nearly three times 
natural size (original, 
The southwestern portion of the United States Division of Entomology). 
is the home of many species of blister beetles not 
found in the North and East. Among the most abundant of these is 
the spotted blister beetle (fig. 18). Its body is covered with tine gray 
hairs, with small rounded areas on the elytra, through which the 
