THE CHINCH BUG IN IOWA. 5 



OBSERVATIONS AT AMES. 



Chinch Bugs were observed in the Fall of 1886 but not in such 

 numbers as to cause serious apprehension. Had the Spring of 1887 

 been an ordinary one I scarcely think the bugs would have been very 

 noticeable here. They were not noted as particularly abundant early 

 in the Spring, but, by the latter part of June, they were causing some 

 damage in a small patch of experimental wheat on the College Farm. 



By the middle of July they were accumulating on corn adjoining 

 the small patch of wheat that had then been cut, though hosts of 

 them could still be seen traveling in the stubble. They were also 

 abundant in a field of Hungarian grass, which, at this time, had made 

 a growth of about six inches, also, in smaller numbers, scattered 

 through fields of sod corn. These last I think it not unlikely had 

 developed from eggs laid in the grass, as the sod was not turned till 

 late. The majority of the bugs at this time (July 14th and 15th) 

 were in the pupa and imago stages though larvae were not scarce. 

 Numbers of the adults were seen pairing at this time. On the 16th 

 bugs were still plenty in the stubble and the stubble was fired {see 

 experiments with remedies.) Adults were seen taking wing from 

 the tops of corn stalks and other elevated positions. July "l 9th I 

 found Chinch Bug eggs quite plenty in ground at base of corn 

 stalks, between sheath of leaf and stalk and, in some cases, among 

 the cast off skins of the bugs under lumps of earth. Some of these 

 eggs were nearly ready to hatch, others apparently but recently laid. 

 On the 20th both Chinch Bugs and their eggs were noted in sod 

 corn. On July 25th Chinch Bugs were swarming in the air, at times 

 passing rny window in immense numbers. They appeared to be 

 much thicker at times, at short periods, few, if any*, being observed. 

 They were first noticed shortly after one o'clock p. in. I saw no 

 evidence of pairing as a result of flight. The bugs were mostly 

 flying from southeast to northwest, the direction of the wind at the 

 time. On July 27th Chinch Bugs were again noticed on the wing, 

 but not in such great numbers as on the 25th. Flying from north- 

 west to southeast, with the wind. On August 3rd newlv hatched 

 bugs were plenty on some hills of corn scattered through the field 

 but the damage from them was not yet very marked. They could be 

 found in greatest numbers on the roots and base of the stems of fox- 

 tail grass. A field of Hungarian grass, late planted on sod, and 

 having about two weeks growth, contained adult bugs in great 

 numbers, many of them pairing, others laying eggs, and the air 

 above the field contained hosts of them on the wing. It was evident 

 that the field would suffer severely as soon as the eggs from the 

 immense number of bugs congregated here should hatch. Both corn 

 and grass showed effects of drouth at this time in curled and wilted 

 loaves, this effect being seen in places where bugs were not yet 

 abundant as well as where they were thick. The early planted Hun- 

 garian grass showed many spots wilted while young bugs were 

 abundant on the roots and on stems at surface of the ground. 



On August 12th bugs in corn were becoming fairly plenty in 

 places and some parts showing damage. In the young Hungarian, 

 on sod, the newly hatched bugs were very plenty and the grass suf- 

 fering severely. A few adults were observed pairing but by no means 



