288 CHINCH BUG DR. LE BAROn's ACCOUNT. 



It would thus appear to leave its winter quarters with nearly the 

 first warm days of spring, and resort to the earliest foliage which 

 puts forth, for nourishment after its long fast. It passes the 

 winter under the loose bark of decaying trees, in the cracks and 

 crevices of stumps and logs, and similar sheltered situations. 

 Mr. Albert Burnet informs me that i ri turning over chips and 

 pieces of boards lying upon the surface of the ground he has 

 frequently met with it alive, in February, though in a torpid 

 state upon cold days. 



The history and description of these insects given in 1850 by 

 Dr. Le Baron, of Geneva, Kane Co. 111. in the Prairie Farmer, 

 is as follows : — 



These insects have prevailed the present season throughout this and the adjoining 

 counties in ruinous profusion. The season has heen excessively dry, which has 

 probably been favorable to their multiplication. I find by reference to the back 

 numbers of the Prairie Farmer that they have been equally destructive in other 

 sections of the country in former years. 



They make their appearance in the latter part of June, confining their depreda- 

 tions at this period chiefly to the spring wheat. So rapid is their multiplication, 

 that in the course of a few days from the time of their first appearance, whole fields 

 are overrun by them, every straw being more or less intested. 



They belong to the suctorial division of insects, and do their damage by imbi- 

 bing the juices of the plants which they infest. The sucking instrument, as in 

 other insects of the kind, consists of a slender four jointed beak, which when not in 

 use is bent back under the body, and rests upon the breast. Upon that side of the 

 beak which is undermost when at rest, is a narrow groove, in winch is contained an 

 extremely fine bristle-like lancet, which is capable of being disengaged from its 

 sheath and used as an instrument for puncturing the straw. When a flow of sap 

 has been thus produced, the lancet is returned to its sheath, and the whole instru- 

 ment is used for the purpose of suction. Collected in dense clusters, chiefly about 

 the lower joints of the straw, with their suckers partially inserted into it, or applied 

 to the punctures previously made, these little insects appear to repose in luxurious 

 contentment. Meanwhile the grain being deprived of its necessary nutriment, 

 becomes wholly blasted or much shrunken, whilst the straw turns white prematurely 

 and at length crinkles down beneath the lancets of this infinity of phlebotomists. 



When the wheat becomes too much dried up to afford them nutriment, they leave 

 the wheat field, and may be seen at this time running on the ground in all directions 

 in search of appropriate food. Next to wheat they usually attack oats, then corn, 

 and lastly timothy or herds-grass; and if none of these are at hand, they will subsist 

 upon some of the wild grasses. The Indian corn is so rapid and vigorous in its 

 growth that it is not usually much injured; yet I have seen, this season, whole 

 fields blackened with them, and large patches of corn blasted and prostrate, as if a 

 fire had run over them. 



They migrate from one field to another by running over the surface of the earth. 

 Nevertheless when they are obliged to move to a distance, the perfect or winged 

 individuals readily take to flight, and they have been seen flying in dense swarms. 



They are seen in about equal numbers in their different stages of growth. The 

 younger specimens are found especially abundant in the earth to the depth of an 



