142 CHINCH-BUG. 



The -worms were at this time less than half grown, but could be 

 easily identified as the larvse ©f the moth named at the head of this 

 article. 



It is a very important question whether these insects are likely to 

 multiply and spread so as to become a serious enemy of the wheat crop, 

 in the more northern latitudes. It is worthy of remark that these larvae 

 usually inhabit the larger and more succulent plants, and do not attain 

 their full size, so as to be prepared to transform, until about the end of 

 July. There is some reason to hope, therefore, that the wheat plant 

 will not prove to be sufficiently succulent and long-lived to enable them 

 to come to that perfect maturity, which is essential to the free propaga- 

 tion of the species. 



We have given above figures of this insect in both its larva and 

 winged states, to aid in their identification. If they should make their 

 appearance another season, and especially if they appear t® be spread- 

 ing, it will be very desirable that those suffering by their depredations 

 shall make notes of their times of appearance and disappearance, and 

 other habits, so that we may be enabled to suggest some rational means 

 of checking their increase. 



THE CHmCH-BUG. 



{Micropus leu€opterus, Say.) 

 Order of HETEROPTERA. Family of Ltg^id^. 

 Harris's Treatise, page 198. Fitch's 1st and 2d Reports, page 277. Riley's 2d Report, 

 page 15. Shimer, in Proc. Phil. Acad. Sc., May, 1867. 



The summer of 1871 has been chiefly remarkable in this State, in an 

 entomological point of view, for the periodical appearance of the 17- 

 year Cicada, and the excessive prevalence of the notorious Chinch-bug. 



Some idea of the loss caused by the depredations of this last named 

 insect, in this and the neighboring States, may be realized when we 

 learn that over a belt of territory one hundred miles wide, com- 

 mencing in the western part of Indiana, and extending more than four 

 hundred miles west, embracing an area of more than forty thousand 

 square miles, the great staple of spring wheat was reduced to not more 

 than a quarter of an average crop, and in many places wholly de- 

 stroyed ; and that over the same territory barley was less than half a 

 crop, and oats not more than three-quarters of their usual amount. 



