212 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



cause ;i swelling as on the leaves. The young begin to feed as soon as 

 hatched, and. because of their great numbers, are able to do con- 

 siderable damage. The species is very prolific and active and feeds 

 upon a Large variety of plants. There are several generations a year. 



Nature of Work. — Like other bugs, this insect pierces the tissues 

 with its beak or proboscis and extracts the juices, causing the plants 

 to turn yellow and greatly retarding growth, if not stopping it alto- 

 gether. It is not generally a pest except in dry years, or when its 

 attacks are confined to a limited range of food plants. Apples are 

 sometimes punctured in the process of egg-laying, causing dimples to 

 appear on the fruit. 120 



Fig. 1ST. — The tarnished plant-bug, Lijgns pratensis Linn. Various 

 stages in the development of the insect. Enlarged twice. (Original) 



Distribution. — This is one of our most common insects and occurs 

 in great numbers throughout the entire State. 



Food Plants. — This bug feeds on a great many plants. It is espe- 

 cially abundant in grain or hay fields and attacks alfalfa, barley, 

 clover, oats, rye, wheat, etc. All vegetable gardens afford a ready 

 supply of food. It is often destructive to apple, pear and other fruit 

 1 rees. 



Control.— Because of its omnivorous habits and wide distribution, 

 the tarnished plant-bug seldom becomes a serious pest of any one crop. 

 For the same reasons, control measures are usually unnecessary. The 

 presence of the insect need cause no alarm unless it is concentrating its 

 attacks to a damaging degree on a few cultivated crops. In such 

 cases contact insecticides, as oil emulsions, soap washes, tobacco sprays, 

 resin washes, etc.. may be used with deadly effect. These insecticides 

 should be applied early in the morning and great care taken that they 

 are not strong enough to injure the foliage of tender plants. 



'-"•Jr. Ec. Ent. I, p. 370, 1908. 



