12 Farmers’ Bulletin 1270. 
Both species of the red bugs pass the winter in the egg stage, but the eggs 
are deposited in sonrewhat different places and hatch at slightly different periods. 
The eggs of the apple red bug are inserted in the bark of the smaller branches 
and are difficult to locate. They are about one-sixteenth of an inch long, 
eurved, whitish in color, and they begin to hatch shortly after the leaves com- 
mence to unfold. The eggs of the false apple red bug are about the same size 
as those of the other species and are usually inserted in the lenticels of the 
small branches and commence to hatch about a week later than those of the 
other species. The young nymphs of each species are red, but those of the red 
bug become darker with age, approaching black when full grown, whereas those 
of the false red bug are relatively lighter in color throughout their nymphal 
period. The nymph of the red bug 
is about one-twentieth of an inch 
long when first hatched and ap- 
proximately one-sixth of an inch 
long in the last nymphal stage, 
while that of the false red bug is 
slightly smaller in all of its nym- 
phal stages. The feeding of the 
nymphs is confined to sucking of 
the juices from the foliage and 
fruit. During the latter part of 
the summer the insects reach ma- 
turity and deposit their eggs for 
the next generation, which do 
not hatch until the following 
spring. The adult apple red bug 
is about one-fourth of an inch in 
Fie. 14.—Appearance of apple leaves as a result a 
of red bug injury, length, dark red to black in gea- 
eral color, with reddish wings 
Which are usually black along the wing tips and have a black spot close to 
the outer edge. The false red bug (fig. 15) is about the same size as 
the other species, but is somewhat lighter in general color and has an orange 
red head and prothorax. The adults of both species are active in depositing 
eggs and when disturbed are very agile and endeavor to hide fronr view. 
Since the red bugs are sucking insects, they can best be killed by means of 
contact insecticides. Forty per cent nicotine sulphate is commonly used at the 
rate of one-half pint to 50 gallons of soapy water made by dissolving therein 
about 2 pounds of soap. If it is desired to use a combination spray for the 
control of sucking and chewing insects and fungous diseases, the same amount 
of nicotine sulphate (omitting the soap) may be combined with arsenate of 
lead and summer-strength lime-sulphur solution -or Bordeaux mixture. The 
first application should be made during the pink cluster- 
bud stage and the second just after the petals have 
dropped, at which times commercial orchards are usually 
sprayed for other insect pests and fungous diseases. 
Attention should be called to the fact that the spray- 
ing should be done preferably on warm days when the 
nymphs are actively at work. It is also desirable to use 
a high-pressure driving spray and quickly wet the entire 
tree, and if feasible have two operators spray simulta- 
neously from opposite sides of the trees, so that none 
of the insects will have a chance to escape by dodging the 
Fig. 15.—Adult of 
false apple red 
spray solution. bug. Enlarged. 
