﻿48 SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



after the fashion of plant-lice. Like the Chinch Bug, the Ash-gray 

 Leaf-bug hibernates in the perfect state, and may be found in the Win- 

 ter in considerable numbers under the loose bark of standing trees 

 and especially under that of the Shag-bark Hickory. It also fre- 

 xjuently swarms in the air, and I have gathered it by hundreds on top 

 of one of the highest buildings in St. Louis, on a warm October day. 

 The Flea-like Negro-bug — Fourth among the bogus chinch bugs 

 may be mentioned the Flea-like Negro-bug {Cori7n€loena pulicaria^ 

 Oermar, Fig. 11). Its color is black with a white stripe each side. 

 [Fig. 11] This insect resembles the Chinch Bug in having an 



ordinary 4-jointed beak, but differs from it in belong- 

 ing to a very distinct and well marked group {Sgu- 

 tellera family), which is characterized by the enor- 

 mous size of the "scutel" or shield. This bug has a 

 Flea-like negeo-bug. great passion for the fruit of the Raspberry, and is 

 sometimes so plentiful as to render the berries perfectly unsaleable 

 by the bed-bug aroma which it communicates to them, as well as by 

 sucking out their juices. Wherever it occurs, the nauseous flavor 

 which it imparts to every berry which it touches, will soon make its 

 presence manifest, though the little scamp may elude ocular detection. 

 It is really too bad that such a little black " varmint" should so mar the 

 exceeding pleasure which a lover of this delicious fruit always expe- 

 riences when in the midst of a raspberry plantation in the fruit sea- 

 son. It is also quite injurious to the Strawberry, puncturing the stem 

 with its little beak, and thus causing either blossom or fruit to wilt. 

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

 very large numbers, and puncturing the blossoms and leaves, but 

 especially 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 pcregrina). 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 bro.wn 

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

 ones. Though found on so many diflferent plants however, it does not, 

 like the true Chinch Bug injure, or in any way efTect, our grasses and 

 grains. 



"To these four 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 



