BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 239 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief. 



June 24, 1915. 



(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) 



THE EGGPLANT LACE-BUG. 1 



By 



David E. Fink, 



Entomological Assistant, Truck Crop and Stored Product Insect Investigations. 



(In cooperation with the Virginia truck experiment station, Norfolk, Va.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



Injury to eggplant by lace-bugs (PI. I) first attracted the attention 

 of the writer during the spring and summer of 1913. In the vicinity 

 of Norfolk, Va., eggplant was found to be infested by a species at that 

 time undescribed. It proved to be Gargaphia solani n. sp., the des- 

 ignation being given by Mr. Otto Heidemann, of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology. Owing to pressure of other work during the season of 1913 

 no further attempts were made at the time to study the insect to any 

 great extent, but it was noted to feed extensively on eggplant, the 

 leaves of which turn yellow and finally shrivel up. During the spring 

 and summer of 1914 it again came under observation, investigation 

 proving it to be widely distributed in Tidewater Virginia. In fact, 

 wherever eggplant was grown on a commercial scale the lace-bugs 

 were feeding. It was then considered advisable to make a careful 

 study of the habits of this insect in view of its wide economic impor- 

 tance, and at the same time to devise and test methods for its control. 



NATURE OF ATTACK. 



In the early nymphal stages lace-bugs resemble the young of 

 aphides; and since they procure their food by suction, the injury re- 

 sulting to the' plants (Pis. II, III) is indicated by a characteristic 

 yellowing of the leaves. All stages may be found on the underside 

 of the leaves, and in the nymphal stages, particularly, they always 

 feed in original colonies as hatched. The first stage of injury appears 

 in the form of circular discolored areas of about the size of a silver 

 quarter. Such a leaf when examined will show a mass of eggs, and 



1 Gargaphia solani Heidemann. 



Note. — This bulletin deals with a new enemy of eggplant and related plants. It will be of interest 

 wherever these plants are grown commercially. 

 91733°— Bull. 239—15 



