Entomological Notes. 293 



the main ones, and they seem to have but little appetite for the 

 work, but in their greatest force, they are not able to make any 

 impression on the horde of the destroyers. Of parasites there are 

 none. There is apparently not an insect parasite so vile, so de- 

 praved in taste as to prey on it or on its first cousin, the bed bug. 



Among the remedies proposed is to stop sowing and planting 

 the grains on which they feed. Objections have been raised to 

 this method, that it would compel us to stop raising all the most 

 essential grains needed to support life, and that, too, for a number 

 of years, which would well nigh occasion a famine, and that it is 

 better to have little than none at all. But this objection is not 

 altogether sound, for in many sections of the country winter wheat 

 could be raised, and this is seldom injured by the bug. Then, as 

 remarked before, it is very doubtful whether they would develop 

 in sufficient numbers to seriously injure other grains were it not 

 for the more timely and better adapted cereals, spring wheat and 

 barley. Neither would it be necessary to follow this practice for 

 a number of seasons to receive any benefit. To the careful ob- 

 server they always give some token of the coming danger. It is 

 a well established fact that it is only in the second of two consecu- 

 tive dry seasons that much damage is done, and if, when they are 

 seen in larger numbers than usual at the close of one dry season, 

 we sow no wheat and barle} 7 the next, we would escape the 

 greater portion of the loss that would otherwise follow ; and by 

 raising other crops might dispense even with corn and oats on 

 suck seasons without great inconvenience, and to the great disgust 

 of the hateful pest. If: this course, even so far as the two first 

 cereals are concerned, were generally followed, an effectual check, 

 at least for a number of years, would doubtless result. But to be 

 largely beneficial concurrent action by farmers generally would 

 be required. 



Another plan recommended is early seeding. This practice, it 

 is true, has not in all instances been effectual, and will occasion- 

 ally fail to secure exemption from loss, but the chances, or rather 

 the probabilities, are in its favor. By all means sow as early as 

 the ground and weather will permit with any hope of the germ- 



