24.0 Agkiculiue-Al Expieimekt S^atioij, Itbaca, N. Y. 



These egg scars with the white tips of the eggs projecting from them 

 are quite easilj^ seen, and occurring in such a limited portion of the 

 plant have suggested a method of combatting the pest. 



Figures 11, 12 and 13 are from photographs of currant stems. In 

 figure 11 several egg clusters are shown considerably enlarged; and in 

 figure 12 are shown three clusters still more enlarged. Figure 13 

 shows a currant tip natural size and well illustrates the size and posi- 

 tion of the whitish eggs in the scars near the center of the stem. The 

 eggs are similarly placed in the stems of gooseberry, flowering currant, 

 and doubtless in its other shrubby food-plants. Eggs were also found 

 in considerable numbers in the stems of wild currant in the field last 

 May. Thus far eggs have been found only in shrubs or woody plants, 

 further indicating, in connection with the fact that these are the only 

 plants on which the nymphs have been recorded, that shrubs are their" 

 permanent food-plants. 



Number of broods. — Dr. Fitch sajs: "These bugs which we meet 

 with grown to maturity and paired in the middle of June, lay a crop 

 of eggs from which another generation completes its growth before the 

 end of the season. Thus there are two generations annually." He 

 mentions no observations in support of this statement. 



Frequent observations were made in 1892 after the adults disappeared 

 in July, but no indications of the insect were seen until the nymphs 

 appeai'ed this spring. This year, as we have seen, eggs were laid as 

 early as June 25, and these still remain unhatched. Again there 

 are no records of the adults being seen later than July. These facts 

 show that in New York State at least, the insect is single-brooded. 

 Two broods may occur farther south. 



Hibernation. — In regard to this phase of the life history of the 

 Four-lined Leaf-bug, all has heretofore been guess work. Dr. Fitch, 

 after admitting that he had not met the insect in its winter quarters, 

 says: " It is evidently in its perfect state, that it passes this period of 

 the year, secreted probably among fallen leaves, or under pieces of 

 boards lying on the ground, in crevices, and other situations where it 

 will remain dry. Coming forth upon the opening of spring, it no 

 doubt lays its eggs upon the young stalks of the dahlia and other 

 vegetation on which the immature bugs afterward appear." Our 

 observations on the oviposition and number of broods just recorded 

 show that this is entirely erroneous. No adults have been seen after 

 July, eggs laid in June now remain unhatched, and nymphs were seen 

 hatching from eggs in May. It is thus obvious that the winter is 

 passed in the egg and not as an adult; the insect thus passes nine 



