256 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Both species are generally rlistribnted tliroughout the apple-growing sections 

 of the State and the red bug is recorded from Illinois. A species closely related 

 to the red bug, H. flavipes, has been recorded by I. Nitobe from Japan, where 

 it is a source of injury. The apple is the only food plant upon which the 

 author has found these two red bugs feeding. 



The eggs of both species are laid during late June or early July, being in- 

 serted their full length into the bark on the smaller branches, 2-year-old wood 

 being preferred. All eggs definitely known to belong to the red bug were found 

 inserted in a slit in the bark at the base of the fruit spurs, while those of the 

 false red bug are usually inserted in pairs in the leuticels of smooth 2-year-old 

 wood. The eggs of the red bug begin to hatch soon after the leaves of the 

 fruit buds open and hatching is practically complete by the time the blossoms 

 open ; those of the false red bug hatch about one week later. Technical de- 

 scriptions and drawings are given of the five nymphal stages passed by these 

 species. Very soon after hatching the nymplis move to the young leaves on 

 which they feed until full grown in case fruit is not available. Both species 

 were reared to the adult stage exclusively ou foliage. Usually when fruit is 

 present the nymphs attack it as soon as set and sting it to death with their 

 feeding punctures. 



Attempts made to kill the delicate and tender nymphs at the time of hatch- 

 ing by coating the bark thoroughly with commercial lime-sulphur, diluted 1 : 8, 

 and applied just before the time of hatching, failed, the nymphs maturing on 

 the trees as abundantly as on those not treated. Experiments conducted in 

 1909 demonstrated that the nymphs are very hard to kill with either whale-oil 

 soap or kerosene emulsion and that commercial whale-oil soap is very likely 

 to burn young apple foliage. In experiments made in 1909 with commercial 

 lime-sulphur, diluted 1 : 30, none of the nymphs was killed unless the liquid was 

 applied so freely as practically to drown them. 



In 1910 experiments with whale-oil soap and nicotin preparations were con- 

 ducted on a larger scale. Neither homemade whale-oil soap free from uncom- 

 bined alkali nor commercial brands were effective in killing the nymphs. Black- 

 leaf diluted 1 : 65, Nico-fume diluted 1 : 700, and Blackleaf 40 diluted 1 : 816 

 were found effective when the nymphs were thoroughly wet with the spray. 

 The addition of about 2 pounds of soap to each 50 gallons of liquid made it 

 spread better and in a measure it lost its tendency to collect in small drops 

 without wetting the insects. A grower at Waterloo, who used Blackleaf at the 

 rate of 1 gallon in 100 gallons of dilute lime-sulphur to which arsenate of lead 

 had been added reports excellent results in the control of the red bug. 



In applying the nicotin preparation the first application should be made just 

 before the blossoms open, while the nymphs are small, soft, and tender. As 

 the eggs of the false red bug and some of those of the red bug hatch during 

 the time the trees are in blossom, a second application may sometimes be neces- 

 sary just after the blossoms fall, at which time the tobacco preparation may be 

 added to the lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead as used for apple scab and the 

 codling moth. 



Harlequin cabbage bug' (Murgantia histrionica), R. I. Smith (Xorth Caro- 

 lina Sfa. Rpt. 1909, pp. 90-99, fig. i).— This is a report of studies of the life 

 history and habits of the harlequin cabbage bug, a paper relating to which 

 has been previously noted (B. S. R.. 21, p. 348). 



Tabulated records of the oviposition of 14 hibernated individuals show that 

 egg masses are deposited at periods varying from 2 to 15 days, with an average 

 of about one mass every 4 days, 12 being the normal number of eggs in a mass. 

 Eggs deposited the middle of April required an average of 11 days for incuba- 

 tion, while for eggs deposited the middle of May the average was about 6 days. 



