EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



285 



foliage and, in very many particulars, producing results similar to 

 those brought about by thrips. Many reports of the Green bug were 

 brought in, but no one was able to produce the insect itself which should 

 have been plentiful if accountable for the results obtained. We our- 

 selves made careful seaix-h and obtained material from many places 

 and while we found occasional plant lice, we failed to find the real 

 Toxoptera graninum, which is commonly known as the "Green bug." 



We believe the past outbreak of thrips to be due to the unusually 

 late spring which was followed by a hot dry spell just suited to the 

 needs of the pests. The oats were held back and had to endure hot 

 summer conditions before they were sufficiently grown to endure them. 

 In other words, the thrips, always present in small numbers, got a 

 chance at the oats before the leaves had a chance to expand and become 

 tough enough to withstand the attack. It is hoped that such another 

 spell of weather will not occur in many years, but in any case clean cul- 

 ture will help to keep the pest in reduced numbers and further than that 

 there seems to be no need. 



PENTATOMIDS FEEDING ON POTATO BEETLES. 



{Perillus claudus.)* 



Fig. G. — Perillus claudus, natural size and enlarged. Original. 



The name stink-bug generally brings to mind the little evil tasting 

 creature that one finds in berries when eating from the bushes. Many 

 stink-bugs or pentatomids, however, are beneficial in their habits. One 

 in particular appeared during the summer of 1907, in the potato fields 



♦Determined by Dr. Heidemann of the U.S. Dept. of_Agriculture, Bureau_of Entomology. 



