25 
at 11.30a.m. At this time it was a light carmine; in the afternoon 
it had changed to the normal dull black color. 
This plant-bug has a similar but much fainter odor than the common 
squash bug, but in ordinary handling of the creatures, nymphs and 
adults, it would scarcely be noticed. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
Quite frequently the adults of this plant: bug are noticed with Tach- 
inid eggs on the upper surface of the thorax. During the first week 
of August a fly was reared from hibernated adults, which proved to be 
Trichopoda pennipes (fig. 5). An 
adult of the squash bug, Anasa 
tristis, was found September 14 with 
a nymph of the second stage of this 
plant-bug affixed to its beak. 
REMEDIES. 
This plant-bug can, in the case of 
ordinary attack, be controlled by 
hand-picking or by capturing the 
insects in Inverted umbrellas, bags, 
or specially prepared nets saturated 
with kerosene; the best time for 
their capture being in the early 
morning or late in the evening, as they are apt to be active, taking 
wing readily, in the heat of the day. 
A certain measure of relief should be obtained by the free use of 
kerosene emulsion, which will at least kill the younger nymphs. 
Some of the remedies in use against the striped cucumber beetle* 
and other insect enemies of cucurbits will assist in the control of this 
species when it occurs on cucurbits. Among these are the protection 
of young plants with coverings; the use of repellents, such as land 
plaster or gypsum, saturated with kerosene or turpentine; the plant- 
ing of an excess of seed to distribute attack; the stimulation of the 
growth of the plant by manures or other proper fertilizer; and, lastly, 
clean cultural practice. If, as soon as the crop is harvested, the vines 
be gathered and burned, many bugs in their different stages will be 
destroyed and the crop of insects will be reduced for the ensuing year. 
With a knowledge of the natural wild food plant or plants of this 
species, we might be able to control it in the same manner as sug- 
gested for its congener, L. phyllopus, which feeds normally upon 
thistles. This matter is considered on page 48 of Bulletin No. 19, 
present series. 
Fie. 5.—Trichopoda pennipes: adult, fly three 
times natural size (original). 
*See Circular No. 31, 2d ser., The Striped Cucumber Beetle, pp. 4-7. 
