HEMIPTERA: THE TRUE BUGS 77 



disease has been propagated artificially and distributed 

 over wide areas by state officials to good advantage. 



HARLEQUIN CABBAGE BUG 



Throughout the Southern states, the Harlequin Cab- 

 bage Bug is one of the best-known insects. It is called 

 by many common names, due to its abundance and its con- 

 spicuous markings in red and black. It feeds freely upon 

 a variety of plants, but is most destructive to cabbages. Its 

 life history is very similar to that of the Squash Bug. The 

 barrel-shaped eggs are laid in clusters, commonly in two 

 rows of six eggs each. They soon hatch into small flat- 

 tened bugs that bear a general resemblance to the adults, 

 although, of course, they have neither wings nor wing 

 pads. These young nymphs suck the sap from the leaves 

 through their pointed beaks, and during the next month 

 shed their skins four or five times before they reach 

 maturity. There are several broods every year, and the 

 winter is commonly passed in the adult condition. 



As the Harlequin Cabbage Bugs come from their winter 

 quarters very early and are readily attracted to mustard, 

 turnips, and other plants, it is generally practicable to use 

 these as trap crops. By planting, for example, a few rows 

 of mustard in the cabbage field, the bugs will be attracted to 

 these plants and may be readily destroyed together with 

 the plants by spraying with pure kerosene. The field will 

 then be comparatively free from the pest, and those that 



come later may be subdued by hand picking. 



? 



CICADAS OR HARVEST FLIES 



The Harvest Flies or Cicadas (Cicadidae) are the largest 

 insects belonging to the suborder Homoptera. Every one 

 has heard during the hot days of midsummer and early 



