SUCKING BUGS INJURING THE FOLIAGE 



193 



The Chinch-bug {Blissus leiicopterus Say) 

 One of the most destructive insects in 

 the history of American farming is the 

 species of sucking bug occasionally at- 

 tacking corn and wheat in countless mil- 

 lions, and known as the chinch-bug. 

 When it is numerous, fields are blasted 

 as if by fire. 



The bug that causes this damage is 

 quite small, one fifth of an inch long or 

 less, dark or black in color, and with 

 thin, white wings folded across the body 

 when at rest. In the East another form 

 is found with wings much shorter. The 

 immature stages are often seen with the 

 adults, and differ httle in shape, but are 

 wingless, smaller, and when young are 

 bright red. 



The adults overwinter in clumps of 

 grass, fallen leaves, weeds, and rubbish 

 accumulating along fence rows, strips of 

 woodland, and especially in corn shocks 

 left in the fields. They come from 

 these places in spring, and lay eggs in 

 grain fields or on suitable weeds. The 

 young appear in May and June. These 

 mature, and there is a second lot of 

 young in August or early September. 



Where small grains are infested, the 

 swarms of bugs are driven from these 

 at harvest and travel in armies to corn, 

 which they literally overwhelm. When 

 large numbers of adults have hiber- 

 nated, the most striking injury may be 



Fig. 241. —Chinch-bugs on 

 corn plant. Original. 



