18 The Bulletin. 



The insects suck the sap from the plants (do not eat the leaves) and 

 cause them to wither and die. Three or four bugs will kill a young plant 

 in a few days. 



Distribution. — The harlequin cabbage bug is not a native of l^orth 

 Carolina. It is sometimes called the "Lincolnite" because it appeared in 

 some localities about the time of President Lincoln's administration, and 

 some people believe that it is a native of the north and was introduced 

 in supplies sent to troops. As a matter of real fact, it is a native of- the 

 far south (perhaps Mexico) and in the United States was first_ destruc- 

 tive in Texas in 1864. It has pushed northward, however, until now it 

 is recognized as a pest as far north as Long Island and Pennsylvania in 

 the east, southern Illinois, southern Indiana and southern Ohio in the 

 Mississippi valley, and in southern California and I^evada in the west. 

 In recent years its progress northward has been checked, probably be- 

 cause it has gone about as far as it can stand the winters. 



Eight here we can see the bearing that a study of the distribution of 

 an insect has on its probable destructiveness. From what we know of the 

 distribution of this pest we know that it will likely continue to be a 

 pest throughout eastern and central ISTorth Carolina. On the other 

 hand it is not yet a pest in the colder part of our mountain regions, and 

 probably will not become troublesome there for some time yet, until it 

 may gradually acclimate itself. As it is a southern insect we may assume 

 that usually very severe winters will kill out many of them, while in 

 winters which are uniformly mild more of them will live through. 



Life Histort, etc. — The adult, winged bugs lay eggs on the leaves. 

 These eggs hatch to young bugs, which are much like the grown bugs 

 in general appearance, although they are not so large and do not have 

 wings. The young bugs feed on the leaves and shed the skin (molt) 

 five times, at the last molt attaining the full size and wings. There are 

 several broods or generations each season. The last brood to reach 

 maturity in the fall passes the winter, the bugs seeking such shelter as 

 they can find under rubbish, etc. 



Emergence. — The harlequin cabbage bug makes its appearance in 

 spring about April 1st. In 1904 the writer observed the first ones at 

 Raleigh on April 2d, in 1909 he found the first ones of the season at 

 Greensboro on April 7th on seeding turnips, while in 1908 Prof. R. I. 

 Smith,* Entomologist of the ISTorth Carolina Experiment Station, first 

 noted it at Raleigh on April 4th. In the eastern and southeastern parts 

 of the State it no doubt appears earlier, farther west perhaps it appears 

 later. At this early season they may often be found grouped in con- 

 siderable numbers on certain individual plants, especially seeding turnip, 

 collard and mustard. They begin to mate and lay eggs soon after 

 they appear. 



Eggs and Egg-laying.— Jn 1908 Prof. R. I. Smith found the first 

 eggs on April 14, ten days after the bugs Avere first observed. The 



•Professor Smith has done excellent work on the hioloRy of the Harlequin Cabbage Bug, and his 

 work is freely quoted in this account. Ills paper on "Biological Notes on Murcantia histronica (Har- 

 lequin Cabbage Bug) was published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, April, 1909, pp. 108-114. 



