DEPAETMENT BULLETIN 779. 



The insect is found at varying altitudes ranging from 9,300 feet 

 at Silverton, Colo., to below sea level in the Imperial Valley of 

 California. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



The nymphs and adults of C. sayi have been observed to feed upon 

 the fruit and seeds of a wide range of cultivated plants, including 



wheat, barley, rye, 

 oats, winter emmer, 

 spelt, milo maize, 

 kafir corn, feterita, al- 

 falfa, Sudan grass, 

 cotton, buckwheat, 

 peas, beans, cabbage, 

 tomato, and lettuce. 

 Among the native 

 food plants of the 

 species are Russian 

 thistle {Salsola tragus 

 L.), mallow {Malva 

 parviflora L.), pig- 

 weed {Amaranihus 

 spp.), wild oats 

 (Stipa spp.), lamb's- 

 quarters (Chenopo- 

 dium spp.), sheep - 

 weed {Gutie7'rezia 

 spp.), and a species 

 of the honeysuckle 

 {Lonicera involucrata 

 Banks). 



Wheat, barley, and 

 rye appear to suffer 



more from the depredations of C. sayi than do any 



of its other cultivated food plants. 



CHARACTER OF INJURY. 

 EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF INJURED PLANTS. 



The heads of small grains that have been injured by C. sayi are 

 conspicuous in the field, especially those of wheat, barley, rye, and 

 oats. Soon after attack, and long before the normal period of ripen- 

 ing is reached, the damaged heads assume a dull yellowish-white 

 €olor and in this condition are in sharp contrast to the bright green 

 of the undamaged heads. They appear normal in size with the ex- 



FiG. 2. — Characteristic damage to 

 wheat heads by the grain bug. 

 Note the awns standing at an 

 obtuse angle from the normal. 

 The head is dead and yellow ; the 

 stem is alive and green. 



