224 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



by Mr. W. C. Eckard, County Agent for VanBuren county. Without 

 his understanding and untiring effort the loss this year would have been 

 far greater. 



CHINCH BUGS. 



A severe attack on corn was made by chinch-bugs in the southern 

 tier of counties in 1922, and in response to a call for help, Mr. Harman, 

 Extension Specialist in this department, conducted a successful cam- 

 paign aided by Mr. H. G. Putnam, a recent graduate of Michigan Agri- 

 cultural College, the two working in co-operation with the County 

 Agents. 



The adult chinch-bugs pass the winter in clumps of grass, under fallen 

 leaves, and rubbish, and wherever protection from the weather may be 

 had. In the spring they fly to fields of wheat where eggs are laid. The 

 young bugs, when hatched, suck the sap from the young wheat plants, 

 causing serious losses in the wheat itself. After the wheat begins to ripen, 

 the bugs start out on foot to reach corn fields, often almost covering the 

 ground, so great are their numbers. They finally climb up into the 

 corn, and attack the fresh, green plants. The bugs work even more 

 deeply into the' fields until there is no hope for the crop. Here a new 

 generation of bugs is produced, the adults of which pass the winter 

 in grass and rubbish, as did the first ones noted. 



The greatest damage in Michigan is done when the bugs attack the 

 corn, and if the owner can stop the progress of the bugs before the corn 

 is attacked, or at least before they get beyond the first few rows, he can 

 usually avoid serious damage. Only a few of the bugs of the summer 

 generation fly, the swarms traveling on foot to invade the corn, an(^ 

 therefore a barrier placed between the grain fields and the growing corn 

 serves to protect the corn for the time being. 



Various types of barriers are used in chinch-bug infested regions, but 

 the one most successful under Michigan conditions seems to be the one 

 used extensively during the invasion of 1922, and described by Mr. J. 

 H. Harman as follows : 



"First — Drag a weighted plank, ten or twelve inches in width, across 

 the line of advance. This forms a smooth path on which to lay tar. If 

 the chinch-bugs have advanced into the corn it is well to lay out the 

 path a few rows ahead of the line of infestation. 



'^Second — In the center of the path dig a series of post-holes twelve 

 inches deep and twenty to thirty feet apart. Be sure to bevel the 

 rims of the holes. 



"Third — Lay down a line of tar about an inch in width on the side of 

 the path farthest from the advancing bugs, being sure that it touches 

 the rim of each hole. As the bugs advance to the tar line they will 

 not cross, but will start along parallel to it in an effort to find a place 

 to pass over. As they reach the holes they pass over the rims and fall 

 to the bottom. 



"Fourth — In the bottom of each hole place about two inches of hydrat- 

 ed lime and dust it around the sides about half way up. The insects 

 falling in the lime cover themselves with the dust and soon suffocate. It 

 is well to visit the holes once a day and stir the lime. When the insects 



