CANTHARIDES. The genus meke is men tioned by Kirby as apparently forming a con necting link between the coleoptera and orthop tera, as having the head vertical, and the elytra lapping at the base. Dr. Le Baron says, the re semblance is very remote. The ge nus Lytta, Fab rieius, or Can tharis, of Geoff roy, contains the blistering beetles of the shops, and also the well known ash-col ored, black, and striped blistering beetles. Sonic entomologists divide them into two groups or sub-genera: Lytta proper, in which the antenna; are almost monniform, and a little thicker towards the tip, and Epieuata, in which the antenna; are filiforrn, or a little taper ing, with the joints elongated. The latter group contains all our common species. Of the species usually found infesting our plants, principally potatoes, and beets, although they are in a sense omnivorous vegetable feeders, they do not attack plants indiscriminately. Of these enumerated, and which comprise the most noxious species with us, the Striped Blister-beetle, the Ash-gray Blister-beetle, and the Black Blister-beetle will suffice to give an idea of the whole tribe. Of these varieties Dr Riley says : The Striped Blis i er-beetle is almost exclusively a southern species, occurring in particular years very abundantly on the potato vine in Central and Southern Illinois, and in our own State, though according to Dr. Harris, it is also occasionally found even in New England. In some specimens, the broad outer black stripe on the wing-eases is divided length ways by a slender yellow line, so that instead of two there are three black stripes on each wing case; and in the same field all the intermediate grades between the two varieties may be met with; thus proving that the four-striped indi viduals do not form a distinct species, as was formerly supposed by the European entomologist, Fabrieius, but are mere varieties of the same species to which the six-striped individuals ap pertain. The Ash-gray Blister-beetle (Lytta cinema, Fabr ) is the one commonly found in the more northerly parts of the Northern States, where it usually takes the place of the Striped Blister-beetle figured above. It is of uniform
ash-gray color; but this color is given it by the presence upon its body of minute ash-gray scales or short hairs, and whenever these are rubbed off, which happens almost as readily as on the wings of a butterfly, the original black color of its hide appears. It attacks not only potato vines, but also honey-locusts, and especially the English or Windsor bean, and the Early Snap bean. It also attacks the foliage of the apple-tree, and likewise gnaws into the young fruit. The Black-rat Blister-beetle (Lytta muria I, be Conte,) is some times found upon the potato in the month of July, and early in August. The Black Blister beetle (Lytta atreta, Fabr.) is very similar in appearance to the Black-rat Blister-beetle; the latter being distinguishable from it only by hav ing four raised lines placed lengthwise upon each wing-case and by the two first joints of the antenna' being greatly dilated and lengthened in the males The Black Blister-beetle appears in August and September, and is very common on the flowers of the Golden-rod. The Margined Blister-beetle (Lytta marginata, Fabr ) may be at once recognized by its general black color, and the narrow ash-gray edging to its wing-cases. It usual y feeds on certain wild plants, but also on potatoes. The same means of destruction will apply equally to all of the Blister-beetles. Let it he remembered that during the heat of the day, these beetles are ready with their wings and may be driven from the vines. Thus the most prac tical and efficient mode of destroying them, is to drive them into a windrow of hay or straw, and kill them by setting fire to it. They may also be driven entirely from a field, when the weather is warm, by continued noise. If they can find feeding grounds outside they will not return. Occasional seasons, however, produce them so abundantly, and they swarm so suddenly, that all ordinary means of prevention from damage fail entirebr.