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MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



map of North America, shown in figure 49, one can see at a glance the 

 known areas of the chinch bug infestation. It should not be understood, 

 however, that the chinch bug does an unusual amount of damage through- 

 out this entire area. As a matter of fact, its region of greatest destruc- 

 tiveness is confined to the following states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 

 Alinnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indian Ter- 

 ritory, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Of these twelve 

 states, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, }['m- 

 nesota and the Indian Territory are by far the greatest sufferers. A 

 glance at the map of the United States, shown in Figure 50, will give 

 you an excellent idea of the area of greatest destructiveness. In the 

 states just mentioned we expect a great annual loss from the ravages 



Fig. 50. — Map showing areas in the United States over which the Chinch Bug 

 occurs In most destructive numbers. (From Webster, U. S. Dept. Agric. ) 



'Of the chinch bug; but like many other injurious insects, the chinch bugs 

 have their ups and downs, and will, as a rule, increase in number and 

 destructiveness for two or three years before they reach their highest 

 ambitions in this direction, and then they will drop down to compar- 

 atively normal numbers again, and then gradually increase until the 

 height is again attained. They behave very much like spasmodic waves 

 passing over the country. 



While the chinch bug has been with us for a great many years, in 

 all too numerous quantities ever}' year, yet in soine years, as for instance 

 1871, 'the chinch bugs have been unusually numcrou? and destructive. 



