Entomological Notes. 289 



and Prof. Thomas those of Illinois at $80,000,000. From these 

 and other data, Prof. Thomas computes the average annual loss 

 they occasion the country at not less than $20,000,000. 



Description. — " The chinch-bug is a small insect less than one- 

 fourth of an inch long, its length usually not exceeding three- 

 twentieths of an inch ; its width something less than one-half its 

 lenerth; rounded on the under side and flat above; of a coal-black 

 color, with white wings which have a triangular, black dot on 

 their outer margins. It belongs to the order hemiptera and sub- 

 order heteroptera, to which group also belong the common bed- 

 bug, squash bug, and other similar true bugs. This species like 

 all the rest belonging to the order, has the mouth prolonged into 

 a slender, horny, jointed beak, usually turned under the breast 

 when not in use. With this^instrument, and the slender needle- 

 like seta? inclosed within it, they puncture the bark, leaves and 

 stems of plants, and suck out their juices. It is in this way the 

 chinch-bug obtains its food. As it has no means of gnawing 

 plants, and is so diminutive in size, it would seem to be incapable 

 of inflicting any very serious injury on vegetation; but as hereto- 

 fore stated, what it lacks ^individual capacity for inflicting injury 

 is made up by the immense numbers which are occasionally de- 

 veloped. A myriad of tiny pumps incessantly drawing away the 

 juices of a plant must in a short time cause it to decay and die." 



The egg is at first of a pale dull whitish or testaceous color, bnt 

 at length assumes a reddish color, from the changes transpiring 

 within ; the embryo can be seen as a red speck in the center 

 through the transparent shell. When first hatched, the young 

 bug is red, with a white stripe across it ; afterwards it turns of a 

 brownish or grayish-brown color. Soon after it is hatched, it in- 

 serts its tiny beak into the plant on which it is situated and com- 

 mences pumping out the juices on which the vigor and life of the 

 plant depend. As their growth is rapid, their moults are frequent ; 

 before reaching the perfect or winged state, it passes through four 

 of these changes, varying in color and markings after each. 

 According to Mr. Riley's observation, " it is bright red, with a 

 pale band across the middle of the body after the first; somewhat 

 darker, with the merest rudiments of wing-pads after the second; 

 19 — Hort. 



