INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAINS AND GRASSES. 55 



capable of laying 150 eggs, commence to deposit them 

 either upon the roots or bases of the stalks. This occurs 

 from the middle of April until the first of June, depend- 

 ing upon the latitude and weather, and the eggs hatch in 

 from two to three weeks. The nymphs often severely 

 injure the small grains, and are full-grown about the time 

 of harvest. As the wheat is harvested they spread to oats 

 and soon to corn, but, curiously enough, though the adults 

 have wings they prefer to travel from field to field on foot, 

 much like Army-worms, and were it not for this fact we 

 would be at a loss how to cope with them. Another lot 

 of eggs are now laid under the unfolding leaves of the 

 corn, and the young nym^Dhs emerge in about ten days. 

 This brood lives upon corn, and when full-grown is that 

 which hibernates over winter. South of the latitude of 

 southern Illinois there is often an unimportant third 

 brood. The most extensive injury is done by the mature 

 nymphs and adult bugs of the first brood. Though no 

 means is known for preventing the ravages of this brood 

 in the small grains, every effort should be made to defend 

 the young corn from its attacks, for, with the innumer- 

 able little beaks of the adult insects sucking out its life, it 

 soon succumbs when they are reinforced by the largely 

 multiplied numbers of the second brood. 



Methods of Prevention and Destruction. — During the 

 migration from the small grains to corn seems to be prac- 

 tically the only time when this pest may be successfully 

 combated. Just before harvest a narrow strip should be 

 plowed around the corn-field and this thoroughly pulver- 

 ized by harrowing and rolling, and then reduced to as fine 

 a dust as possible by dragging over it a brush composed 

 of dead limbs, or whatever contrivance is most convenient. 



