158 SECOND REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The following were my reasons for believing that the attack would 

 continue and become more serious, as contributed to the Albany Argus 

 of October 10, 1883: 



The insect has planted itself, maintained a footing and has shown a 

 rapid increase under unfavoring, unpropitious and unnatural conditions 

 such as these : 



First. It is regarded as a southern insect (extending farther north- 

 ward, as do most animal forms, in the Mississippi valley), yet it has ap- 

 peared in the most northern county of the State, and upon, if the re- 

 port be reliable, the St. Lawrence river. 



Second. Its attack has been made upon timothy. This seems to be 

 its most unusual food-plant, and, therefore, we infer, the least suited to it. 

 All previous accounts concur in giving it a preference for spring wheat 

 above all things else; next in order, oats or corn, and last the grasses. 

 Timothy is only mentioned as occasionally attacked by it. 



Third. In all previous accounts, great prominence has been given to 

 its being a hot and dry weather insect, dependent upon these conditions, 

 not only for its multiplication, but for its existence. Heavy rains have 

 been claimed to be invariably fatal to it. It could not abound, it is 

 stated, in a wet season. Dr. Fitch had even made recommendation of 

 sprinkling it with water (an artificial shower), as the best means for its 

 extermination. In the present instance, the bug obstinately persists in 

 multiplying, contrary to all rule. The past year and the present have 

 both been years of excessive rain-fall in St. Lawrence county. Spring, 

 summer and autumn have been exceptionally wet. In the spring, heavy 

 and continued rains flooded meadows now shoAving the chinch-bug 

 attack. At haying time, when the bugs were young, and according to 

 all the statements hitherto made, readily killed by wet, the rains were so 

 frequent and severe, that the grass cut could only be secured with diffi- 

 culty. Upon Mr. King's farm, much of it was drawn in, upon favor- 

 able days, by improving the opportunity of extending the labor into 

 hours after nightfall. At the present time grass is lying in fields in 

 stacks, which could not be gathered, owing to continued rain; and fields 

 of oats are still unharvested. 



It appears that the insect has rapidly increased and largely extended 

 Its area during the present year, under conditions which should have 

 been fatal to it. Why it has been otherwise may perhaps find its ex- 

 planation in the fact that it is a new introduction into this part of the 

 United States, and that it is following the law well known to prevail in 

 the introduction from abroad (Europe principally), of nearly all of our 

 injurious insects. With scarcely an exception, with their importation, 

 they become far more destructive, causing greater ravages and often 

 attacking new food-plants. 



As the past history of the insect has shown that parasites and other 

 enemies have entirely failed to arrest its multiplication, we are com- 

 pelled to believe, from present indications, that it has come to stay, and 

 that it will do so, iniless effectual means are taken to prevent it. Its 

 capability of increase is wonderful. Under the most conservative cir- 

 cumstances, a single chinch-bug, depositing its eggs about the first of 

 June, would be, in the following August, the progenitor of a quarter of 

 a million. 



