52 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO STAPLE CROPS. 



and supposedly immune crops, and {b) by the use of in- 

 secticides and fertilizers. But all the remedies or pre- 

 ventives tested resulted in failure, and this has been the 

 experience of several other leading entomologists. It was 

 ascertained, however, that they may be more or less 

 checked by destroying the beetles. This can be done both 

 by fall plowing or by trapping. By plowing late in sum- 

 mer and keeping the earth stirred for a period of a month 

 or so, large numbers of the newly transformed beetles which 

 do not become fully hardened until spring, and pupae, will 

 be destroyed. When the wireworms are numerous in re- 

 stricted areas, as they often are on spots of low moist land, 

 they may be effectually trapped with but little labor by 

 placing under boards bunches of clover, or sweetened 

 corn meal poisoned with Paris green. 



A short rotation of crops, in which land is never allowed 

 to remain in grass for any length of time, will undoubtedly 

 secure comparative immunity from serious attack. 



The Chinch-bug (Blissus le^icopteriis Say).* 



Though individually insignificant, when assembled in 

 countless myriads Chinch-bugs have doubtless been of 

 greater injury to the farmers of the Mississippi Valley than 

 any other insect attacking grain crops, and are responsible 

 for hundreds of millions of dollars' loss. 



Distrihntion, — This insect may be found over all the 

 eastern United States to the Rockies, and in restricted 



*See "The Chinch-bug," F. M. Webster, Bulletin 15, n. s.. 

 Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Ag. ; Dr. S. A. Forbes, 12th, 16th, and 20th 

 Ilepts. St. Ent. Illinois. 



