on; ] KM KM is AND KOKS 



135 



farmer devote his attention to the production of wheat, 

 just before he is ready to garner it he finds that cer- 

 tain insects harvest a quota proportionate to their 



FIG. 108. Ear of corn, showing holes made in kernels by larvae of AngoumoiH 

 grain moth, Gelechia oerealella. From photograph. 



numbers. Chief among these is the chinch-bug, iti 

 small dark-colored insect with light-colored wings. 



The Chinch-Bug. - Kach female chinch-bug lays about 

 500 eggs promiscuously on the ground early in the 

 spring. These soon hatch as little red, spider-like 

 forms, and seek their nourishment from surrounding 

 plants. They do not eat the stalk, but insert the beak 

 and withdraw the life-juices of the plant, causing il 

 to dry up prematurely. In about six weeks these young 

 red insects arc mature, and ready to reproduce their 

 kind. It is this second brood that sometimes make- 

 sad havoc in the grain-fields of the farmer. The (pics 

 tion then is, What means of defense are at the disposal 

 of the farmer? lie has not manv insect allies to aid 







him in the reduction of this insect. There are certain 

 contagious diseases which break out under certain cli- 

 matic conditions. These conditions are obtained when 

 the weather continues warm and moist. When these 

 conditions prevail and the chinch-bugs are numerous, 

 great numbers of them will die in a short -pace of time 

 from contagious diseases. When, however, the weather 



