CHINCH BUG ITS APPEARANCE A. D. 1839. 279 



the Carolinas and Virginia for several years. In 1785 the fields 

 in North Carolina were so overrun with them as to threaten a 

 total destruction of the grain (Webster on Pestilence, vol. i, p. 

 279). And at length the crops were so destroyed in some 

 districts that they were obliged to wholly abandon the sowing of 

 wheat. It was four or five years that they continued so numer- 

 ous, at this time. 



The only particular account whicTL was published, of the 

 insect and its habits at this period, of which we have any 

 knowledge, appeared in London, in Young's Annals of Agricul- 

 ture, vol. xi, p. 471. It is from this notice of it, Kirby and 

 Spence state, that they derived the information given in their 

 Introduction to Entomology (p. 127, American edition), which 

 is as follows : "America suffers also in its wheat and maize from 

 the attack of an insect, which, for what reason I know not, is 

 called the chintz bug-fly. It appears to be apterous, and is said 

 in scent and color to resemble the bed-bug. They travel in 

 immense columns from field to field, like locusts, destroying 

 eVerything as they proceed; but their injuries are confined to 

 the states south of the 40th degree of north latitude. From this 

 account the depredator here noticed should belong to the tribe 

 of Geocorisce Latreille; but it seems very difficult to conceive 

 how an insect that lives by suction, and has no mandibles, could 

 destroy these plants so totally." 



About the year 1809, we are informed by Mr. Jeffreys that 

 the chinch bug again became so destructive in North Carolina, 

 that in Orange county the farmers had to abandon the sowing of 

 wheat for two years, and according to his statement the insects 

 were subdued hereby. At various other times of which we 

 have no record, it has undoubtedly been abundant in that and 

 the adjacent states, that section of country appearing to be its 

 head quarters. 



In 1839 we have accounts of its having again become exces- 

 sively numerous and destructive in Virginia and the Carolinas. 

 W. S. Gibbes, writing from Chester district, S. C, June 27th, 

 says, " Though we are not yet afflicted with the grain worm 

 (wheat midge), nor much injured by the Hessian fly, a pest has 

 appeared among us within the last two years, which from their 



