148 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



THE TARNISHED PLANT-BUG. 



Lygus pratensis Linn. (Family CapsidsB). 

 (Fig. 130.) 



General Appearance.— The mature bug varies from pale green to 

 grayish brown, marked with yellow, black and red. The legs are 

 pale brown or yellow with dark rings. The young bugs are lighter in 

 color than the adults, without pronounced markings. All forms are 

 exceedingly common and very active. 



Life History.— Hibernation is usually passed in the adult stage, 

 under any convenient shelter. In the early spring the females deposit 

 their eggs directly upon the food plants. The young begin to feed as 



soon as hatched, and continue 

 throughout their life history. 

 This species is exceedingly prolific 

 and its ability to travel rapidly 

 and the large variety of food 

 plants make it a constant menace. 

 Food Plants. — This bug feeds 

 on almost every kind of plant. It 

 is especially abundant in grain or 



Fig. 130. — The tarnished plant-bug, 



Lyffus pratensis Linn, a, adult, b, nymph, hay fields. All vegetable gardens 



(After Chittenden.) ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^ppj^ ^f f^^^ j^ 



is often destructive to apple, pear and other fruit trees. 



Control. — Because of its omnivorous habits and wide spread it sel- 

 dom becomes a serious pest of any one crop. For the same reasons, con- 

 trol measures are most difficult. The presence of the insect need cause 

 no alarm unless it is concentrating its attacks to a damaging degree 

 upon cultivated crops. In such cases contact insecticides, such as emul- 

 sions, soap washes, tobacco sprays, resin washes, etc., may be used with 

 deadly effect. These insecticides should be applied early in the morning 

 and great care taken that they are not strong enough to injure the 

 foliage of tender plants. 



Clean culture serves to rid them from the fields before planting and 

 to lessen the attacks the coming year. 



THE CHINCH BUG. 



BUffsns IcHcopterus Say (Family Lyga^idae). 

 (Fig. 131.) 



General Appearance. — The chinch bug is a very small black and 

 white insect about 3 mm. long. The eggs are about one third as long 

 as the adults, oval, and amber in color. The young vary from yellow 

 and red to the color of the adults, depending upon the age. 



