384 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE DIFFEEENT STAGES OF GROWTH, 



As a usual thing it is only the larger winged form that we notice, the 

 young forms remaining concealed in the denser part of the plant. The 

 common name, tarnished plant bug, is a very appropriate one for the adult, 

 as it has a stained or tarnished appearance, though still retaining a pol- 

 'ished surface. It is a very variable species in its markings, and has until 

 recently been considered as several distinct species. The females, as in the 

 figure, are quite a light brown with yellowish white markings; the males, 

 a dark reddish brown with scarcely a light marking. Intermediate mark- 

 ings, ranging between the two extremes, may also be found. There are 

 four distinct stages of growth between the egg and the mature form; the 

 first, second, and fourth of which are illustrated in the accompanying 

 figure. The small line at the side shows the natural size. The first two 

 stages are entirely wingless, and in color are a light green. They resem- 

 ble the plant very closely, and this affords them a means of protection 

 which they often make use of by keeping very quiet on the stalk of like 

 color and so are easily overlooked. The next two stages begin to show 

 evidences of the wings, quite small in the first but very distinct in 

 the next. They are still green with a very few dark markings, but the 

 color does not seem to be used much as a protection in these two stages. 



THE LIFE HISTORY. 



Early in the spring the first insects to make their appearance on early 

 vegetation are the imagos (adults) of the tarnished plant bug. They 

 have lived through the winter in this form, under boards, bunches of dead 

 leaves, grass, rubbish, or anything that they can find which will give them 

 shelter. They are very general feeders as will be readily seen in looking 

 for them on the plants in one's immediate vicinity. They feed on all the 

 common weeds as well as grass, clover, and jjlants raised for their flowers. 

 The fruit, blossoms, and foliage of the pear, apple, quince, strawberry, and 

 grape suffer alike from their piercing beaks. Our vegetables suffer in the 

 same way. They not only feed on these plants but breed on them also. 

 Early in the season the eggs, described by Prof. Forbes as minute, white, 

 smooth, slender, oblong ova, are deposited on the plant. From these the 

 young soon hatch. They are at first very slender for their size, but, as 

 they grow older, the imbibing of so much sap tends to expand the body 

 much faster than it lengthens. From the first part of June through the 

 remainder of the season, all stages from the youngest up could be found 

 on the celery, though at times certain stages were more common than 

 others. Before the cold autumn weather becomes severe, the adults are 

 again in winter quarters. 



BEST MEANS OF FIGHTING THE BUG. 



A great many insecticides have been tested only to find them ineffectual 

 and unsatisfactory. Owing to the bug sucking its food from the inside of 

 the plant, no remedies affect it except those that kill by contact. Of these, 

 the kerosene emulsion, so often recommended in our previous bulletins, is 

 probably the best, but as the bugs are so shy and hide, or take flight so 

 readily, a large per cent, of them escape even with the most thorough 

 work. It was noticed that in collecting leaf hoppers with the hopperette, 



