56 EBERHART8 OUTLINES OF 



As a brief sketch of the life history of the insect, we 

 quote as follows from S. A. Forbes, State Entomologist of 

 Illinois, who has made a careful study of its life and habits 

 for some years. " The eggs are usually laid early in spring, 

 on the roots or lower part of the stem of grain in the field, 

 and to these the young are confined for a time after they 

 hatch. 



As they get larger and more numerous, they come out 

 of the ground and gather on the stalks of the wheat or 

 oats, remaining there until the ripening of the grain com- 

 pels them to seek food elsewhere. At this time they are 

 commonly just beginning to acquire wings, but they migrate 

 to the corn field on foot, as a very general rule, gathering 

 for the first few days on the outer rows of the field. As 

 soon as the larger part of the brood acquire wings, how- 

 ever, they begin to scatter through the field, laying their 

 eggs on the corn, where the second brood live in the corn- 

 fields until cold weather approaches, when they scatter 

 everywhere for shelter under which to pass the winter. In 

 the spring they emerge and deposit their eggs in the grain 

 fields as already described." 



Remedies. Wet weather has proved very destructive 

 in its effects upon Chinch Bugs; no actual experiments 

 having been made, however, but this is shown by the testi- 

 mony of past years. Frequently plowing and harrowing a 

 narrow strip of land bordering the field has offered an 

 obstruction to those Chinch Bugs which enter the field in 

 masses and on foot. Another method is to place boards on 

 edge around the field and keep their upper edges daubed 

 with coal-tar. As the bugs of the first brood remain "at 

 first on the borders they may be reached here with insecti- 



