INFESTING FIELD CROPS, 



1. WHEAT. 



AFFECTING THE STALK. 



Externally on the stalks sucking their juices, turning the field white in spots 

 where they are numerous; after harvest migrating to corn; a small narrow 

 coal-black bug, with closed white wings, having a black dot on the middle 

 of their outer edge. 



The Chinch bug, Micropus leucopterus, Say. (Plate 4, fig. 2, and 2a, the 

 same magnified.) 



This is unquestionably one of the most pernicious insects 

 which we have in the United States. The locusts of Utah and 

 California are the only creatures of this class which exist within 

 the bounds of our national domain, whose multiplication causes 

 more sweeping destruction than does that of this diminutive and 

 seemingly insignificant insect. Although it has never appeared 

 as a depredator in this section of the Union, and was for a long 

 time supposed not to occur to the north of the celebrated " Mason 

 and Dixon's line," I have at different times met with three 

 specimens of it in our own state, and Dr. Harris found it once 

 in Massachusetts. As it exists in our midst, therefore, we have 

 reason to fear that peculiar seasons or other favorable circum- 

 stances may at some future time arrive, which will cause it to 

 multiply and become as destructive here as it now is in some of 

 our sister states south and west. Hence its history is as deeply 

 interesting to us as that of any other insect within our borders. 

 And as enquiries respecting its correct name, its habits and 

 depredations are so frequently appearing in our agricultural 

 papers, I probably cannot render a better service than to present 

 these topics as fully and definitely as I am enabled to do from 

 the information which I have gathered. 



