226 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



sional plants in tobacco-fields arc at times observed to have become 

 suddenly wilted, the leaves hanging limp, much as if the stalk had 

 been severed. After a time they recover again, and, beyond a 

 temporary check on their growth, appear to have suffered but 

 little injury. If such plants are searched carefully while still 

 wilted, a flat, brown bug with, each side of the body produced into 

 an angle, or sharp spine, will be found upon the stalk along the 

 base of the leaves. It is very shy and keeps out of sight, hence any 

 brisk movement on the injured plants is likely to cause it to drop to 

 the ground and conceal itself." These insects are true bugs, suck- 

 ing their food through a beak, which is bent under the body 

 between the legs when not in use. They are about half an inch long, 

 of a drab color above and greenish or yellowish below. Usually 

 only one bug is found on a plant, so that the best way to prevent 

 the injury is to pick them from the plants, and keep down such 

 weeds as thistles and mulleins, upon which such insects feed, in 

 the adjoining fields. 



The Suck-fly * 



One of the worst tobacco pests in many parts of Florida is a 

 little bug called by the planters the " suck-fly," which fortunately 

 does not seem to have become a pest elsewhere. They insert their 

 little beaks into the tissue of the leaf and suck the juices, causing 

 the leaf to become yellowish and wilted, and cracking older leaves 

 so that they become ragged. As a result it is exceedingly difficult, 

 if not impossible, to properly cure badly infested leaves. 



Life History. The adult is a small bug about one-eighth inch 

 long, with rather long yellowish-green legs. The upper surface is 

 black, except the front margin and a central stripe of yellow on the 

 pro-thorax, while the under side is greenish. The " flies " become 

 numerous enough to be injurious early in June, usually being 

 noticed first in one corner of a field near where they have hiber- 

 nated. They rarely do serious damage to the first crop, but the 

 second crop and late tobacco is sometimes entirely destroyed. 

 They have also been noted in the Gulf States as injuring tomatoes. 



* Dicyphus minimus Uhler. Family Capsida. 



