LYGAEID^ 



153 



to it. In the prairies they hide in the grass and emerge in 

 the spring. The female begins to deposit eggs in April and 

 May. This is done gradually and extends over a period of 

 about three weeks. This early deposition is usually done 

 about one-half inch under the ground on the stems of spring 

 or winter wheat. The eggs are white and very minute and 

 ha\'e four little projections at the head end. They hatch 

 in three or four days after deposition, into minute little 



Fig. 107.— Chinch bug on corn. (Photo from Ohio Exp. Sta.) 



white bugs with small red spots, having the same shape as 

 the adult but lacking in wings. They are unable to feed on 

 plants outside of the grass family, migrate to corn after the 

 wheat is cut and while some ha\'e wings fully developed they 

 usually all move on foot. At this time they can be easily 

 killed. The eggs of the second brood are laid on the corn 

 stalks. Before cold weather comes there is an extensive 

 migration, probably accompanied by mating, and the insects 

 hibernate. One group matures in the summer and dies while 



