A RECORD OF SOME EXPERIMENTS RELATING TO THE 
EFFECT OF THE PUNCTURE OF SOME HEMIPTEROUS IN- 
SECTS UPON SHRUBS, FRUITS, AND GRAINS, 1886. 
By I’. M. WEBSTER, Special Agent. 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
La Fayette, IND., October 15, 1886. 
Sir: I herewith give results of my experiments with Hemiptera, principally Lygus 
pratensis L. 
F. M. WEBSTER. 
Prof) C. V. RibEY, 
U.S. Entomologist. 
The object of the following experiments was to determine the effect 
of the punctures, or the withdrawing of sap from shrubs, the juices 
from berries, and the milk from ripening grain; and if possible to settle 
the point as to whether or not these Hemiptera, in thus partaking of 
their food, eject a poisonous saliva into the wounds which they neces- 
sarily produce, and thereby cause the death of the punctured object. 
All insects were confined upon these shrubs, fruits, and grains by 
means of a sack of Swiss muslin, drawn over the object and tied, the 
stem being protected from undue pressure by cotton placed in the 
mouth of the sack. 
EXPERIMENT 1. 
Pecilocapsus quadrivittatus. 
May 22, a number of adults were confined upon two or three inches 
of terminal portious of a young pear shoot. 
Result.—Within one week the shoot withered, and afterwards the 
leaves and buds died, and turned black as far down as the muslin sack 
extended, but below that point no effect was noticeable. Later, after 
the insects had also perished, new leaves were put forth within the sack. 
EXPERIMENT 2. 
Lygus pratensis UL. 
May 20, placed adults on shoots of Concord grape, 
Result.—May 28, no effect could be noticed. 
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