60 
That dry weather during spring and early summer is almost invaria- 
bly associated with an increase, and wet weather during the same 
period with a decrease of Chinch Bugs is usually true, but why this is 
so has never been definitely explained. 
The fungoid disease known as Lntomophthora has, since it was studied 
by Dr. Shimer, been known to be much more fatal in wet than in dry 
weather. How far this would prove true,-and to what extent the 
farmer could rely upon this fungus to keep the Chinch Bug in check, 
gave the incentive for carrying out the following experiments. 
Karly in July, 1888, a large number of Chinch Bugs, principally pupee 
nearing the last molt, were placed in a close glass vessel and kept in a 
very damp atmosphere and under high temperature. Although kept 
for two weeks under these conditions we failed to produce the Entomoph- 
thora among them. This was accepted as evidence that the fungus did 
not exist in any stage of deveiopment here at La Fayette, Ind., although 
it was reported from an adjoining State. 
On July 20, of the present year, we received some dead chinch bugs 
from Prof. F. H. Snow, of Lawrence, Kans., which were said to be af- 
fected by Entomophthora. These diseased bugs were placed under glass 
with living ones from the fields, the latter being provided with food and 
kept thus confined for fifty-three hours, when the major portion of them 
were placed on several hills of corn, seriously infested by bugs, the 
remainder with the dried remains received from Professor Snow being 
scattered about over a small area of young wheat sown for experiment, 
and also swarming with young Chinch Bugs. The hills of corn on which 
the bugs had been placed were isolated from others, equally badly in- 
fested, by narrow frames of boards placed on the ground, and the upper 
edges covered with tar. This last precaution was taken in order to pre- 
vent communication with other hills, intended as checks on those used 
directly inthe experiment. The area of young wheat over which infested 
bugs had been placed was not inelosed, but its limits carefully marked. 
Vive days after, July 27, a single bug was found on one of the isolated 
hills of corn which had very evidently died from the effects of Entomoph- 
thora, and by the 30th enough others were found to show that the fungus 
had fully established itself, and the barriers about the isolated hills were 
removed. On August 2, dead bugs covered with Hntomophthora were 
found in considerable numbers about hills of corn, 25 feet from where the 
original colonies had been placed, and also throughout and even 55 feet 
beyond the area of young wheat over which dead and affected bugs 
had been distributed. Daily observations were now made, but the pro- 
gress of the disease seemed to come to a stand-still. From the 5th of 
August up to the 9th it was almost impossible to get sufficient material, 
outside, to enable me to carry on laboratory experiments. August 13, 
the spread of Hntomophthora appeared to have taken on new life, and dis- 
eased bugs were becoming much more numerous. August 15, found 
diseased bugs 172 feet from any place where they had been previously 
observed. August 20, diseased bugs were very abundant over all of. 
