374 agriculture of maine). 



5. Tarnished Plant-Bug. 



{Lygus pratensis.) 



This insect is a very destructive one, and injuriously affects 

 a large number of cultivated plants. It passes the winter in the 

 perfect state, taking shelter among rubbish, or in other con- 

 venient hiding-places, and early in May, as soon as vegetation 

 starts, it begins its depredations. 



These insects are partial to the unopened buds, piercing them 

 from the outside and sucking them nearly dry, which causes 

 them to become withered and blackened. Sometimes a whole 

 branch will be thus affected, being first stunted, then withering 

 anTl finally dying. This insect also causes serious deformation 

 of the fruit both by feeding and egg-laying punctures. Early 

 in the morning these plant-bugs are in a sluggish condition, and 

 may be found hidden in the expanding leaves ; but as the day 

 advances and the temperature rises, they become active, and 

 when approached dodge quickly about from place to place, drop 

 to the ground, or else take wing and fly away. In common 

 with most true bugs, they have when handled a disagreeable 

 odor. In the course of two or three weeks they disappear, or 

 ■cease to be sufficiently injurious to attract attention. 



Fig. 28. (After Chittenden). Enlarged. 



The mature bug (fig. 28, a) is about one-fifth of an inch long, 

 and exceedingly variable in color and markings, ranging from 

 a dull brown to a greenish or yellowish-brown. In a typical 

 specimen the head is yellowish, with three narrow reddish 

 stripes ; the beak is about one-third the length of the body, and 

 is folded upon the breast when not in use. The prothorax has 

 a yellow margin and several longitudinal yellowish lines ; be- 

 hind the prothorax, upon the scutellum, is a yellow V-shaped 



