284 EEroRT of the Department of Entomology. 



V. INJURY TO PEACHES BY THE TARNISHED PLANT 



BUG. 



On June 15th Mr. W. T. Rudmau, of Rochester, N. Y., brouj,'ht 

 in a number of Elberta peaches having much the appearance of 

 those shown at Plate XLI, Fig. 6. Sonie.of them showed more 

 injury than thoise shown in the picture, being nearly covered with 

 sap and much withered. On June 17th the orchard from which 

 these peaches were taken was visited. The cause of the injury 

 was easily ascertained, as there were many tarnished plant bugs 

 on the peaches. A number of them were watched through a 

 lens and co'uld be plainly seen forcing their beaks into the fruit. 

 In several cases a single insect made from four to eight thrusts 

 before leaving the fruit. Mr. Rudman stated that he had noticed 

 the bugs on the fruit for the first time about six days previous 

 to this date. They began to leave the fruit late in June and did 

 not return again during the season. 



Nature of the injury. — The bugs usually confined their attacks 

 principally to the under side of the fruit, making large numbers 

 of punctures with their sharp beaks. Within a short time after 

 the punetureis were made drops of sap would flow and finally the 

 skin begin to wither. The injured peaches when mature were 

 deformed to a greater or less degree, depending upon the extent 

 of the injury to the young fruits. 



Location of infested trees. — All of the trees in which the injury 

 was done were close to the west side of a rather dense woods con- 

 sisting principally of chestnut and white oak, with an under- 

 growth of sassafras. The trees in the first three rows nearest 

 the woods were most serioaiisly attacked. On the fourth and fifth 

 rows very little injury was done, and only an occasional injured 

 fruit could be found in the remainder of the orchard. 



