148 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES 



Remedies. — Owing to the peculiarity of this species of con- 

 gregating in immense numbers and doing great damage in a 

 short time, immediate steps for its suppression must be taken. 

 Remedies advised for the striped turnip flea-beetle are 

 applicable. 



PLANT-BUGS AND APHIDES 



The HarlecLuin Cabbage Bug (Murgantia histrionica Hahn.). — 



From southern New York and 01\io southward, late cabbage 



and other cole crops sometimes suffer severely from a gayly 



colored plant-bug variously known as the calico back, fire bug. 





Fig. 100.— Harlequin cabbage bug. a. Young; b. half grown; c. d, egg cluster; e. same 

 from above;/. ^, adult, c, /, g, Natural size; a, b, slightly enlarged; d. e more en- 

 larged. (After Riley.) 



and terrapin bug, as well as harlequin cabbage bug. It is the 

 most destructive cabbage pest of the South, and second only 

 to the imported cabbage worm as an enemy to the cole crops 

 of our country. It is a native of Mexico and Central America 

 and since its discovery in Texas in 1866 its dissemination north- 

 ward and eastward has been rapid, until at one time it threatened 

 to overrun southern portions of New York and New England, 

 Ohio and States farther westward. The harlequin-like ornamen- 

 tation of the insect is shown in figure 100, /. g.; the dark 

 portions are shining black or dark blue and the lighter portions 



