34 



FARMERS BULLETIN 860. 



Fi'j. 30. — Cranh. 

 mature toadbiij. 

 enlarged. 



toadlnig : Ini- 

 uyiiiph. Much 



(fig. 29). The long-Avinged forms mi- 

 grate in the fall, but by far the ma- 

 jority of the bugs have short elytra 

 and abortive wings and remain on 

 the bog. The bugs, both adult and 

 nymph (fig. 30), are strong jumpers 

 and move so quickly that seldom can 

 they be located a second time. Eggs 

 are laid during September and Octo- 

 ber, and in the operation of deposit- 

 ing them one is held at the tip of the 

 abdomen by the female while she 

 coats the entire egg with fine particles 

 of dirt and grains of sand, after which 

 she moves away, allowing the egg to drag on the ground until it 

 drops off. The eggs remain on the floor of the bog until the follow- 

 ing summer, being able to withstand both fall and winter flowage. 

 Hatching occurs in late June and July and for a few days in August. 

 The nymphs secrete a cottony material Avhicli breaks away from their 

 bodies and coats the uprights on which they are feeding. Such 

 white-coated uprights are, as a rule, indicative of toadbugs, but 

 a similar effect is sometimes produced by the cranberry vinehopper.^ 

 The nymphs molt five times and the cast skins, clinging to the up- 

 rights, may be mistaken for the bugs themselves. Adults first appear 

 in August. 



Teeatjiext. 



The few severe outbreaks which have been observed in New Jersey 

 have died out of their own accord. Among the natural controls of 

 the pest are an insect parasite that produces a black hump on the 

 back of the m'm])h and a fungous disease that has the appearance 

 of the white mold. 



If water is available for summer use, the bog should be flooded, 

 preferably in cloudy weather, some time between August 1 and 15, 

 Instances are on record where such flooding was practiced for 48 

 hours without injury to the berry crop. Weeds and grasses which 

 project above the flowage should not be allowed to remain. A good 

 wind Avill blow the l)ugs to the shore, where they may be killed with 

 a spray of burning kerosene. 



Amphiscipa biiittatu Say. 



