INSECT PESTS AND THEIR CONTROL 253 



the adult insect punctures the stems of the plants as they are coming 

 up, and deposits its eggs in the wounds. The grubs hatch and feed upon 

 the tender leaves until they are fully developed. Transformation then 

 takes place and the adult beetle begins to de- 

 stroy the foliage. 



Treatment. Breaking up the ground in the 

 spring with a disk harrow to stimulate a rapid 

 growth has been found to be beneficial. Clean 

 up all trash and rubbish which might form hiding 

 places for the insect. Immediately after first 

 cutting use a spike-tooth harrow, followed closely 

 by a brush drag to knock off and kill the grubs. 

 Bur. Ent. Bull. 112; Utah Exp. Sta. Bull. 110. 

 The Chinch Bug (Blissus leucopterus, Say.). 

 Throughout the Middle states this is the worst 

 enemy of all kinds of grains. It hibernates for 

 the most part in clumps of grass, but may be 

 found hi weeds and rubbish along fence rows. 

 The bug injures the plant by sucking the sap 

 from the stalks. 



Treatment. Concerted action by the farmers in a large area, in burn- 

 ing the bunch grass late in the fall or hi early winter, is the best means of 

 control. The grass should be burned close to the ground when it is per- 



CHINCH BUG 

 (Blissus leucopterus). 1 



Adult of long- winged form, 

 much enlarged. 



CHINCH BUG (Blissus leucopterus). , l 

 Adults of short- winged form, much enlarged. 



fectly dry, thus destroying many of the insects and leaving others unpro- 

 tected against the storms of winter. When bugs are migrating from small 

 grains to corn or other crops in summer, they may be stopped by dusty 

 ditches with post holes in bottom, by dust ridges or coal tar barriers. 

 Farm. Bull. 657. 



i Bur. Eat. Cir. H3, 



