'64 3Iississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



This little bug is so simibir in size, form and general appearance to the 

 notorious chinch-bug, Ihititisvery frequently mistaken for the latter by 

 those not accustomed to observe insects closely. It often occurs in great 

 numbers in strawberry fields, especially in autumn, when purslane and 

 other spreading weeds have been allowed to grow freely. It is not usually 

 guilty of any very serious injury to the plants, and yet is worthy of mention. 

 The following item in the Western Rami for 1870, by a fruit grower of Cen- 

 tralia, Illinois, probably refers to this insect: — 



"A new insect, to us here, has appeared on our strawberries for the first 

 time the past season, damaging the crop very much. It resembles some- 

 what the chinch-bug, so destructive to our wheat and corn, and judging from 

 the peculiar odor they emit on being mashed, should think them very nearly 

 related. Some claim that they are of a different species altogether. Whether 

 this be so or not, those interested in the cultivation of the strawberry are 

 anxiously looking forward to another se;fson to see if they are to continue 

 their depredations." 



From the genuine chinch-bug it may be very readily distinguished by the 

 fact that it is of a rather uniform pale and tarnished brown color, whereas 

 the chinch-bug has a decidedly black head and thorax, with two conspicuous 

 black spots on the front wings, separated by an hour-glass-shaped white 

 blotch. The genuine chinch-bug does not attack the strawberry. Prof. 

 Riley's description and figure of Nysius destructor are given herewith, some- 

 what condensed :— 



" General color grayish brown. Head more or less distinctly pubescent; 

 the surface usually brown, with 9, distinct black, longitudinal line each side, 

 broadening on the crown, but generally leaving the orbit of the eyes pale; 

 these lines sometimes more diffuse and occupying the whole surface, except 

 a median brown spot at base of crown, and a narrow, paler spot on the cly- 

 peus; ocelli piceous; rostrum piceous, paler at base and reaching to hind 

 coxfe; antennae either pale yellowish brown or darker brown, the torulus 

 and first joint darkest. Thorax with the pronotum narrowing anteriorly, the 

 sides slightly sinuate, irregularly and more coarsely punctate than the head, 

 more or less pubescent, dingy yellow or brown, with a transverse black 

 band near the anterior edge; also five more or less distinct longitudinal dark 

 lines, the central one most persistent and leading on the posterior margin to 

 a ixile, shiny, impunctate spot; scutellum usually dark, coarsely puncUite. 

 Legs pale yellow, inclining more or less to brown; coxaj dark at base, pale 

 at tip ; trochanters pale ; front and middle femora spotted more or less con- 

 flaently on the outside with brown; tibite ringed with brown at base. 

 Hemelytra cither colorless, transparent and prismatic, or distinctly tinged 

 with dingy yellow; shallowly punctate and very finely pubescent. Venter 

 piceous, minutely and regularly covered with gray pubescence ; female dingy 

 yellowy except at base; female paler than male, and generally larger. Aver- 

 -age length .13 inch. Described from numerous specimens." 



