The Fotjr-linbd Leaf-Bug. 227 



In brief, the presence of the pest is indicated by the appearance of 

 peculiar brown depressed spots (Fig. 2) on the tender terminal leaves. 

 As the attack continues, whole leaves turn brown, curl up, become 

 brittle and are torn or broken by the wind. (Fig. 1.) The young shoot 

 is checked and frequently droops and dies. The buds of dahlias and 

 roses are often blasted. 



The Insect's Appearance. 



The immatiire form. (Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.) — These immature 

 forms of the insect are called nymphs. When first hatched (Fig. 4) 

 they are so small that it would take nearly twenty of them placed end 

 to end to measure an inch. (The hair lines at the right of the figures 

 in each case indicate the natural size of the insect.) They are easily 

 recognized, however, on account of the shining vermilion red color of 

 the body marked with large blackish spots on the thorax. The antennae 

 and legs are of a greenish black color. The nymphs grow quite rapidly, 

 casting off their skin five times and undergoing considerable changes in 

 markings as shown in the figures. The body retains the same vermilion 

 red color until the last nymphai stage is reached. The large black 

 spots on the thorax of the newly hatched nymphs are seen to be the 

 beginnings of the wing pads which gradually become nlore and more 

 apparent at each moult, as shown in the figures. 



The full grown nymph (Fig. 8) is of a bright orange yellow color 

 and measures about 5.5 mm. (.21 inch) in length. Their black wing 

 pads, which now have a broad yellowish green stripe near the outer 

 margin, are very conspicuous and extend nearly half way to the end of 

 the abdomen, which is also marked with black. The eyes are prominent 

 and uf a dark reddish brown color. The general shaj^e of the nymphs, 

 the relative proportion of the different parts, and the hairs and black 

 markings on the antenure, legs and other parts of their bodies are well 

 represented iu the figures 4 to 8. At the fifth or last moult the adult 

 insect appears. 



The adult insect. — Figure £ shows the general shape and the char- 

 acteristic black markings of the adult insect as seen from above. In 

 the smaller figure at the right the adult is represented natural size. 

 The general color of the body is bright orange yellow; the legs and 

 the portions between the black stripes on the thorax and wing covers 

 are of a dark apple green color, which usually changes to a 

 lemon yellow after death. The wing covers are mostly of a leathery 

 texture; the black caudal portion which slopes downward at an angle 

 of about 45 degrees, is membraneous with the exception of a triangular 

 green portion that usually has a small black spot near its center. The 

 prominent eyes are of a very dark reddish brown color. The sexes are 



