Moved from Epicauta funebris.

John Pinto det.
Moved from Epicauta.

I have a cut flower business in Washington State, and every August, a drab grey species of Epicauta comes out in hordes to feed on the petals of my asters, dahlias, and others. I've tried controlling them by hand, but they fly in from other areas (they're attracted to light colors and will flock to you if you're wearing white!). They seem to be a very local nuisance, because many friends with flowers in the area report that they've never experienced this. Does anyone have information on this genus' life cycle, so I can look for another, non-pesticide method of control?
S. Gingras

This is a species of Epicauta. They are notoriously difficult to identify to species, having many color variations. Photographers, be careful. They secrete a liquid chemical that can cause blistering on human skin, and severe allergic reactions in some people.