EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



385 



quite a number of tarnished plant bugs were also collected and it seems 

 probable that this is a quicker and cheaper means of fighting them than 

 is any insecticide. 



As prevention is better than cure in disease, so it is with this bug, and 

 we must look largely to this means in keeping it in check. The relation 

 l^etween the number of bugs and the manner in which the celery fields and 

 surrounding borders were kept, was very noticeable in every celery field 

 visited this season. If long grass, weeds, loose sods, or boards were left 

 scattered along the border or in the vicinity of the field, the bugs were 

 sure to be there in greater numbers than where everything was kept picked 

 up and cleaned up so that the bugs could find no protecting shelter in 

 which to hibernate. This is the reason certain localities suffered so much 

 more than others. Occasional exceptions in locality were seen, but where 

 such occurred the bugs were scarce in proportion to the care used in keep- 

 ing rubbish cleared from the fields. 



The loss produced by the bug is impossible to estimate as it is not a 

 total loss of celery, but only a decrease in the market price. The loss in 

 this way is a serious one as every celery-grower who has a poor article to 

 put on the market well knows; and when it can be avoided, at least the 

 most of it, by ^a little care and tidiness, it is well that all such precaution 

 be taken. 



THE LITTLE NEGRO BUG {Corimelaena puUearia, Germ). 



Obdee HEMIPTERA. 



Family C0RIMELAENID2E. 



The little black bug which appeared so suddenly and in such great numbers on celery this season. It 

 kills the leaves and dwarfs the plant. By the remedies suggested it is thought it can be controlled. 



Fig. 7.— The little negro bug. A, upper side much enlarged, a, natural size ; B, under side of the same 

 showing the beak ; C, section of a leaf with bugs at work— (original) . 



No celery insect up to the present time has caused more alarm over the 

 State than this species did the past season. It came so suddenly 

 and in such great numbers at Tecumseh that for a time it appeared as 

 49 



