119 
to the cucumber done while the young seedhngs are in the cold 
frames. In all such cases these frames were near wood-piles or 
out-buildings, and during the occasional warm days of spring, when 
Fk 
12. Squash-bug, Anasa tristis: a, adult; h, egg cluster; c. 
d, c, young in different stages. Twice natural size. 
the frames were opened, the bugs gained entrance, the temperature 
of these beds making them fully active. Shortly after coming from 
their winter c[uarters they deposit the conspicuous clusters of glossy 
yellowish-brown eggs (Fig. 12, 6), usually on the under side of 
the leaves. The young, light gray bugs (Fig. 12, c) hatching from 
these, immediately begin sucking the juices of the plants. In their 
later immature stages (Fig. 12, d, c) — which differ only in size 
from the young bug as it hatches from the tgg — they feed, as do 
the adults, upon the juices of the plant. The loss of sap, however, 
is not the primary cause of the wilting of the plants. This is 
due principally, if not wholly, to a liquid poison which the bug in- 
troduces into the wound which it makes. In some cases it also 
gives entrance to a bacillus which causes a wilt disease. 
Methods of Control. — Collecting the bugs under board traps is 
probably the most satisfactory of the various methods suggested 
for the control of this pest. This should be done in early spring, 
as soon as the bugs appear. The boards are simply laid on the 
ground as a decoy shelter for them during the night, and here they 
may be easily captured early in the morning. The eggs should 
likewise be collected and destroyed as fast as they are laid on the 
leaves. 
Iverosene emulsion kills the young bugs without injuring the 
plants if it is very carefully applied, but it is too dangerous for 
ordinarv use. 
