112 FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 



Later in the season the mature bugs were forwarded to me from 

 Taney county, Missouri, under the supposition that they were Chinch- 

 bugs, and other accounts reached me from Kansas, of the ravages of 

 a bug, generally called the Chinch-bug, but which was evidently the 

 species in question. Several insects have, at different times, been 

 mistaken for the Chinch-bug, and under the head of '' Bogus Chinch- 

 bugs," I have indicated some of them in my second Missouri Report, 

 (p. 31). They are thus confounded with that arch-destroyer, more on 

 account of the nauseous, bed-buggy odor which they have in common, 

 than because of their close relationship or resemblance. The bug 

 under consideration, however, not only has the same odor, but in size 

 and general appearance bears a good deal of resemblance to its more 

 notorious associate, and for that reason may be known by the vernac- 

 ular name of False Chinch-bug. From the figure (Fig. 40) of the 

 genuine Chinch-Bug, that insect will be seen to have a decidedly black 



[Fig. 41.] head and thorax, with two con 



spicuous black spots on the 

 front wings {hemelytra) ; while 

 Nysitis destructor (Fig. 41, c) 

 is of a mere uniform, paler, 

 tarnished brown color. Inhabit 

 the two insects differ materi- 

 ally; for while the former is 

 the grain-grower's particular dread and terror, and confines its inju- 

 ries almost entirely to cereals and grasses, the latter has not yet been 

 found on cereals, and shows a predilection for plants of the Mustard 

 family, though it attacks alike the Potato and even the Grape-vine. 



In common with all other true Bugs, this insect feeds by suction ; 

 and the way in which it injures a plant is by depriving the same of its 

 juices, ;;nd causing it to wilt. The potato leaves sent me by Mr. Stone 

 presented the appearance of figure 41, a, showing little, rusty, circu- 

 lar specks where the beak had been inserted, and little, irregular 

 holes, which looked more as if made by some Flea-beetle, one of 

 which, the Cucumber Flea-beetle (//a^^!^c«c^^c^«n(S/'^'sHarr.), is known 

 to thus injure Potato leaves. 



I can not now give you its complete natural history, as to do so 

 will require further study of its habits, which I hope to be able ta 

 make before the close of the year. From analogy we may infer that 

 there are two or three broods in the course of the year, and that, as in 

 the case of the Chinch-Bug, it passes the winter in the perfect state, 

 and is difficult to combat when once infesting the field or garden. 

 Clean culture, and especially the burning of weeds and rubbish in the 

 winter time, will doubtless prove to be the best guarantees against its 

 injuries. The young bugs are without wings, and are of a paler color, 

 with more or less distinct longitudinal dark lines on the head and 

 thorax. The pupa (Fig. 41, I) has the front part of the body marked 



