100 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF KANSAS. 



red color. As they grow older, brownish and blackish colors be- 

 gin to appear. The adult is thus described by Professor Popenoe : 



Body about nine-sixteenths 

 of an inch long, elongate-oval 

 in outline, black, with red 

 marks, to wit: Above, a me- 

 dian line and the lateral mar- 

 gins of the thorax, the anterior 

 portion of the outside edges 

 of the upper wings, and an 

 oblique line separating the 

 thicker, basal portion from 

 the membranous terminal 

 portion of each, red; below, 

 FIG. 55. BOX-ELDER BUG; a, adult; ft, young. t h ree broad lines on the abdo- 

 men, two lateral and one me- 

 dian, and the globular basal joint of each leg, red; eyes brownish-red; 

 antennae slender, slightly thicker at tip, black; legs slender and, except 

 the red basal joint, black. 



The insects are harmless when swarming about the house in 

 winter time, so far as attacking household effects goes. They have 

 no jaws, and can only suck. However, they are disgusting and 

 repulsive to the housewife, and are most unwelcome visitors. 



Remedies. When the bugs are assembled in large numbers, 

 crushing or brushing into boiling water may be employed. Or 

 kerosene (see p. 9), either pure or as an emulsion, may be applied 

 by spraying or dashing with a broom. They cannot be killed by 

 spraying the foliage with arsenicals, as they obtain their food 

 from beneath the surface of the leaf. 



Kansas Notes. The life-history of this pest has been made 

 fcnown by the studies of Prof. E. A. Popenoe, of the State Agri- 

 cultural College, at Manhattan. In the First Annual Keport of 

 the Kansas Experiment Station of the State Agricultural Col- 

 lege, for the year 1888, Professor Popenoe ( pp. 220-225) discusses 

 the pest, and from this paper most of the foregoing notes have 

 been taken. 



In the Third Biennial Report of the State Board of Agricult- 

 ure (1881-'82), Professor Popenoe refers briefly to the pest. The 

 bug has been known at Manhattan as a tree pest since 1878. 

 It may be seen in any part of the State now. 



