THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 



Vanada Farmer for August 1st, 1867 ; and it was under this very same 

 serious charge that it was apprehended and brought up for trial at 

 the last May meeting of the Alton (Ills.) Horticultural Society. It 

 also attacks both Cherry and Quince, occurring on these trees in very 

 large numbers, and puncturing the blossoms and leaves, but espe- 

 cially the fruit stems, which in consequence shrivel and die. It is 

 also quite injurious to garden flowers and especially to the Coreop- 

 sis, and abounds on certain weeds, among which may be mentioned 

 the Red-root or New Jersey Tea-plant (Ceanothus Americanus), and 

 Neckweed or Purslane-speedwell (Veronica p&regrina). In the 

 month of June under these two last named plants, they may be 

 found in countless numbers of all sizes and ages, from the small light 

 brown wingless, newly hatched individuals, to the full fledged jet 

 black ones. In fact they breed on these weeds, and there is no more 

 effectual method of checking their increase and thus preventing their 

 injuries to our cultivated fruits, than by sprinkling these weeds, and 

 the ground underneath them, with a good strong solution of Cresylic 

 soap. I should advise the propagation of a small patch of either one 

 of these weeds near a strawberry patch, as a decoy for the Bugs, 

 which may thus be, to some extent, enticed away from the straw- 

 berry plants, and killed more readily. 



There are two other species of Negro-bug which are common in 

 this State, though they never swarm in such injurious profusion as 

 does the Flea-like Negro-bug. The first of these (Corimelcena latera- 

 lis, Fabr.) is absolutely undistinguishable from it however, except in 

 being fully one-half longer and wider. The shape, sculpturing and 

 coloring are exactly the same, even down to the lateral white stripe ; 

 so that, but for the fact of no intermediate grades in size occurring, 

 the two would be certainly considered as mere varieties of one and 

 the same species. The other Negro-bug {Cor. unicolor, Beauv.) is 

 fully twice as long and wide as our insect; but though resembling it 

 closely in every other respect, yet differs very notably in lacking the 

 white anterior edging to the front wings. It might indeed be said, 

 that the biggest Negro dresses entirely in black, while the two other 

 smaller sized darkies relieve the sombre monotony of their sable 

 suits, by wearing a conspicuously white shirt-collar. 



To these three bogus Chinch Bugs, might be added one or two 

 other species of small stinking Bugs which have been, by some per- 

 sons, mistaken for the true Chinch Bug. But enough has been already 

 said to show, that insects which in reality are shaped and fashioned 

 as differently as are cows and deer, are yet often confounded together 

 in the popular eye, principally, no doubt, because they have the same 

 peculiar bed-bug aroma. Should the ignorance of the popular ju Ig- 

 ment in confounding these tiny creatures which seem Do the Ento- 

 mologist so very, very different from each other, therefore, be des- 

 pised and ridiculed ? Far be it from me to display such intolerant 

 stupidity! As well might the nurseryman ridicule the grain grower, 



