106 FIELD CROPS 



a fluid secreted by them, called honeydew. These insects 

 affect only corn, and are seldom found except in corn fields. 

 Injury from them becomes more severe as corn is grown 

 year after year on the same land. 



Treatment. The treatment for this pest is rotation of 

 crops, which will provide for growing corn not to exceed two 

 years in succession on the same land. Fall plowing and 

 clean cultivation, especially during the early part of the 

 season before corn is planted, are effective in checking the 

 ravages of these insects. 



130. Chinch Bugs. The chinch bug, which is common 

 only periodically, is most commonly known by its attack 

 on grain fields, where its injury is greatest. Often entire 

 fields are cut down by these insects. They live over winter 

 in the adult stage, usually under rubbish of some kind. The 

 female emerges in the spring and lays the eggs, and in a short 

 time the young are hatched. The egg-laying period extends 

 over several weeks, so the young are usually seen in all 

 stages of growth. They attack plants anywhere above the 

 ground, sucking the juices from them. As they usually 

 appear in large numbers, their damage is very serious. 

 The adult is black and white, usually not over one-eighth of 

 an inch in length. The young are reddish in color, and go 

 through various changes before maturity. Their attacks 

 on corn are usually after the grain fields on which they have 

 been living are harvested. 



Treatment. Clean farming, that is, the disposal of all 

 rubbish on the place, is effective because it reduces the num- 

 ber of suitable places in which the insects may live over 

 winter. When it is feared that they are to attack a corn- 

 field, a strip a rod or so wide, plowed and pulverized to fine 

 dust, is effective in checking their progress. Furrows are 

 often plowed about a field and a log dragged along the fur- 



