348 



PESTS OF ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUITS 



orchard and its surroundings are thoroughly cleaned of weeds and 

 litter in the fall, there is not likely to be noticeable damage. The 



bugs may be jarred from small trees. 



A related species, Lijgus invitus 

 Say, is a pest on pears, scarring the 

 fruit by its feeding punctures. 



The Apple Red Bugs 



{Heterocordylus malinus Rent., and 

 Lygidea mendax Reut.) 



Sucking bugs, about one fourth of 

 an inch long, known as apple red bugs 

 because of their brilliant color in 

 their younger stages, puncture young 

 fruit, causing it to grow distorted. 

 There are two species, similar in 

 appearance. 

 Eggs are inserted in the bark, and hatch in early spring. The young 



feed at first on the newly expanding 



foliage, making numerous punctures and 



giving the leaves at times a red appear- 

 ance. Later they attack the fruit. 

 The remedy is to spray with tobacco 



extract just after the leaves expand and 



before the blossoms open, so as to kill 



the younger stages soon after they hatch 



from the egg. Soap may be added to 



the spray material. 



Fig 



551. — Work of Apple Red 

 Bugs. Original. 



Fig. 552. —The Negro Bug. 

 Enlarged and natural size. 

 Original. 



The Negro Bug {Thyreocoris (Corimelcena) pidicaria Germ.) 

 Exceedingly small, hard-shelled, shiny black bugs, resembling tiny 

 beetles, sometimes feed on the ripe fruits of raspberry or blackberry, 

 giving the fruit an unpleasant flavor. Usually they are not common 

 enough to demand attention. No remedial measures are known. 



