THE CHINCH BUG IN IOWA. 



The extensive ravages of the Chinch Bug (Blissus kucoptems. Say) 

 during the past season, which have had no precedent in the history of the 

 State, together with the present strong probability, that it will be equally 

 destructive, perhaps more so, the present year, make it important that the 

 fullest knowledge of its habits and the best known methods of preventing 

 its damages, should be thoroughly distributed throughout the State. 



According to the Iowa Crop Report, issued July 16th, including reports 

 from correspondents up to July 10th, this insect had already become notice- 

 able in three-fourths of the counties of the State arid its damage to the 

 wheat crop had run into the millions of dollars. Availing myself of the 

 kind offer of Secretary Shaffer, of the State Agricultural Society, to co-op- 

 erate in getting statistics of damage in the State, I prepared a set ot ques- 

 tions which he included in his blanks sent to correspondents, at the same 

 time including a brief note on work that might profitably be done in Fall. 

 The full result of the returns from these queries are not yet available, but 

 will be published shortly in the final Crop Report of the season. Mr. 

 Shaffer has however kindly favored me with estimates from the reports 

 already examined, from w r hich it appears that the damage to the crops, 

 wheat, oats, barley and corn, will approximate twenty-five millions of 

 dollars at least. An item by no means insignificant even when distributed 

 among all the farmers of the State. 



In the present Bulletin I shall not attempt an elaborate discussion of 

 the Chinch Bug or of the methods of attacking it, but endeavor to give in 

 brief space the facts of economic importance with recommendations for 

 remedies that should be universally known. 



The portion summarizing life history and habits, and the synopsis of 

 remedies, have been published in the College Biennial Report for the years 

 1886 and 1887, pp. 60-67. 



The observations and experiments with remedies were carried on as 

 agent of the Division of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, at 

 the instance of the Entomologist, Professor C. V. Riley. Detailed reports 

 have been forwarded to him and he has very kindly granted permission to 

 include such portions as have more immediate importance in this Bulletin. 



Professor Riley will include in his forthcoming report to the Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture, an extended article on the Chinch Bag, with detailed 

 discussion of its habits, remedies, etc. He informs me that this report will 

 be issued early in Spring, and I would strongly recommend all farmers of 

 the State to make early application to their respective members of Congress 

 for copies of the report, and to carefully study the portion relating to the 

 Chinch Bug. 



LIFE-HISTORY AND HAHIT.s. 



The life-history and habits of the species have been very fully recorded, 

 it having been studied in detail by such entomologists as Fitch, Riley, 

 Walsh, LeBaron, Shimer, Thomas, Forbes and others. The facts here 

 stated must not therefore be looked upon as given with any claim of origin- 



