160 INSECTS AFFECTING THE ORANGE. 



is broadly oval, the legs slender and of tlio same color as the body. 

 Length, 17"-" {^%%- inch). 



The following account of ravages committed by the Raphigaster is 



from a correspondent in Florida. It affords a good example of the 



sudden rise into importance as a pest of an insect 



which is ordinarily a quite insignificant enemy of the 



Orange. 



« * * u You also reciucst observ^ations on the 



Green Soldier-bug. I forward by same mail twigs of 



the orange tree injured by the bug. The insects are 



coupling now. The females will soon lay the eggs in 



„ ,. a cluster on a leaf, straddling over them while layiue-. 



Fig. n.— Raphigaster i o j t> 



hiiaris. (After The youug appear in the latter i^art of February or 

 the first part of March. As observed by the eye the 

 youug are black, with white spots, which color they retain until nearly 

 full grown, when they acquire wings and change to a bright green. 

 How this is done 1 do not know. They mature very quickly, and 

 increase with surprising rapidity, continuing to breed until November. 

 In the spring and early summer they confine their attacks principally 

 to garden vegetables and succulent weeds. They are particularly 

 abundant on tomato-vines, egg-plants, turnip-tops, and mustard, sel- 

 dom doing much damage to orange trees at this season. When pea- 

 vines are well grown, about or a little before the time of blossoming, 

 they abandon nearly everything for the pea-vines. Last year they to- 

 tally destroyed my garden. Not one tomato came to perfection. Where 

 the insect had inserted its sucking-tube a reddish-yellow spot ap- 

 peared. When cut the fruit was full of lumps and totally devoid of 

 flavor. The tomato- vines grew so enormous a crop that the ground was 

 almost covered by the fallen fruit. Last year I had 35 acres planted in 

 cow pea vines, which bore an enormous crop of peas; but not enough 

 sound peas could be gathered to plant 5 acres additional land. Later 

 it was impossible to find a sound pea. I attempted to turn under the 

 vines, but so luxuriant was the growth that it could not be done. To- 

 wards the end of August the pea-vines were dead or dying, when the 

 bugs swarmed to the orange trees, killing nearly all the new growth. 

 Immense numbers were killed by keeping men constantly going over 

 the grove, shaking the trees, and killing all that fell on the ground. 

 The wingless individuals were readily killed, but the larger number 

 of the mature insects saved themselves by flight. This method of de- 

 struction was kept up until the middle of December, by which time 

 very few were found. On very cold days the winged insects were nearly 

 dormant and could not fly. I have the trees frequently searched now, 

 but rarely find the bug. The number of the insects is incredible. 

 When thoroughly shaken, the ground under the trees would be alive 

 with the fallen insects, and two days later just as many would be found. 

 I despaired of getting rid of them until the cold weather commenced. 



