132 



from a large oak leaf in the course of a single night when confined 

 to one leaf. On one occasion one of the crickets ate two saw-flies 

 which had emerged in the jar ; I am not positive that it killed them, 

 but it certainly devoured all the softer parts of the body. I have also 

 had them feed upon various kinds of small leaf-hoppers and tingids, 

 and am convinced that they are thoroughly and constantly carnivorous 

 and therefore a valuable ally in reducing the numbers of our smaller 

 insects. 



LIFE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE CORN BILL-BUGS. 



{Sphenophorus ochreus Lee). 

 Bv F. M. Webster. 



Although its method of attack is somewhat unlike, this insect is 

 closely allied to the species figured in Vol. I, p. 186, of Insect Life, 

 and there described as destroying sugar-cane in the Sandwich Islands. 

 While by no means rare, and diffused over the country from Canada 

 to Arizona, the species under discussion has but recently come to the 

 front as a destructive insect, the first published 

 notice of its depredations appearing in the 

 monthly report of the Illinois State Board of 

 Agriculture for June, 1888. It was there accused 

 of puncturing the stems of young corn, and feed- 

 ing on the tender folded leaves in the center of 

 the plant, near the surface of the 

 ground, its depredations being con- 

 fined to fields planted on newly- 

 drained swamp lands, which had 

 previously been grown up with 

 rushes (Scirpus) and reeds (Phrag- 

 iiites), its supposed food plants. 



There is the best of evidence that 

 this pest has for several years been 

 working serious injury to the corn 

 crop planted on recently-drained 

 swamp lands in Indiana, hundreds 

 of acres being thus destroyed. Until quite recently, however, I have 

 not been able to work up the matter thoroughly enough to get an in- 

 sight into the life history of the depredator, and though there are yet 

 a few minor points lacking, still I am able to give its probable habits 

 during the entire year. 



The insect passes the winter in the adult stage, coming forth from its 

 hiding places in spring, and feeding upon the tender portion of the stems 





Fig. 20. 



SphenophoruK ochreus: a, larva; h, adiilt_ 

 enlarged (original). 



