Florida Agriciltural Experiment Station


 BEETS
 BLISTER-BEETLES
 These long, slender beetles feed on a variety of truck plants,
including beets, tomatoes, and potatoes. In the Northern
States these insects are known as old-fashioned potato bugs "
to distinguish them from the more recently introduced Colo-
rado potato-beetles." They are known in parts of Florida as
"Yankee bugs," perhaps from the bluish color of certain species.
The adult beetle crushed against the skin causes a blister, hence
the name blister-beetle." It is also called Spanish fly," cer-
tain species being the source of the drug of that name.
 Eight species of blister-beetles are more or less trouble-
some to vegetation in Florida. The most common one is the
gray blister-beetle (Epicauta heterodera) which has no stripes.
The striped blister-beetle (E. vittata) (Fig. 9) is frequently
seen.
 The work of all the species is about the same, except that
they show preferences for different plants. They strip all
 Sthe softer parts of the leaves, leaving only the mid-
 ribs. The beetles usually feed in colonies, some-
 times so large that they quickly strip and ruin a
 patch or an entire field.
 If the colony is small the quickest way to ex-
 terminate it is to collect the beetles in a pan of
 Fig. 9.-Strip- kerosene. They are quick to take alarm and the
 ed blister-
 beetle; Nat- collector must work rapidly. If the colony is large
 u r a l size.
 rom U. S. the plants should be sprayed with lead arsenate.
 The larvae feed on the eggs of grasshoppers and
are beneficial to agriculture. For this reason it is better, wher-
ever possible, to drive the beetles from the field rather than to
poison them. To do this, use a bundle of twigs with which to
whip the plants and work with the wind, driving the beetles
quite a distance from the field to prevent their quick return. It
may be necessary to repeat this driving frequently.
 BEET LEAF-MINER (Pegomyia vicina)
 This insect belongs to a large class made up of small pests
which often escape the notice of the trucker because of the
small size of the insect and the wound inflicted, while the un-
thrifty condition of the injured plants is laid to a lack of fer-
tilizer or water. Collectively they inflict severe damage.