Di ice hk S.uC13.' 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
FARMERS’ 
BULLETIN 
Wasuincton, D.C. ~ 657 May 6, 1915. 
=~ 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief. 
THE CHINCH BUG.' 
By F. M. WEBSTER, 
In Charge of Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Few insects, and certainly no other species of the natural order to 
which this one belongs, have been the direct cause of such enormous 
pecuniary losses as the chinch bug (fig. 1). 
No other insect native to the Western Hem- 
isphere has spread its devastating hordes 
over a wider area of country (see maps, figs. 
6 and 7) with more fatal effects to the staple 
grains of North America than has this one. 
Were it not for the extreme susceptibility of 
the very young to destruction by drenching 
rains, and the less, though not insignificant, 
fatalities to both the adults and young dur- 
ing rainy seasons attributed to the parasitic 
fungus S porotrichum globuliferum Speg., the ll ghana ee Gums 
practice of raising grain year after year on — teucopterus): Adult of long- 
the same areas, as is followed in some parts of Winged form, much enlarged. 
ines (Author’s illustration.) 
the United States, would become altogether 
unprofitable. Some of this insect’s own habits, emphasizing as they 
do the effects of weather conditions, are among the most potent 
influences that serve to hold it within bounds by giving its tendency 
to excessive increase a decidedly spasmodic character. 
1 Blissus leucopterus Say; order Hemiptera, family Lygeide. 
Notre.—This bulletin describes the forms and stages of the chinch bug, its habits and natural enemies, 
and suggests methods of preventing its ravages. It will be of general interest wherever this pest prevails. 
82461°—Bull. 657—15——1 
