2 ' BULLETIN 1016, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Miss E. H. Hart, to whom much credit is due. A dipterous parasite 

 of the adult insect has also been reared for the first time, as described 

 below. 



SEASONAL HISTORY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 



NUMBER OF GENERATIONS. 



There are two generations of the chinch bug annually in the 

 South, the same as in the North. The adults begin to mate shortly 

 after they emerge from hibernation quarters, this emergence occur- 

 ring during the latter part of April, as mentioned elsewhere in this 

 paper. A few pairs in copula, however, have been collected prior 

 to this date. General copulation does not occur until after the 

 spring migration, or after the adults have reached their feeding 

 ground ; it usually takes place during the first week in May, although 

 the time varies somewhat. Eggs are deposited shortly after, and 

 by the latter part of May nymphs appear. By the end of the first 

 week in June the majority of the old adults are dead and by the 

 middle of the same month new adults begin to appear, although 

 not attaining their maximum abundance until some time in July. 

 Part of June, July, and part of August are covered by the second 

 generation, which may be called the summer generation. The adults 

 from this generation appear in September and October, and some 

 probably in early November, and go into hibernation for the winter. 

 The two generations overlap to such an extent that during the sum- 

 mer months all stages of the insect may be found in the fields at once. 



HIBERNATION. 



In the South this insect passes the winter in the adult stage among 

 old, dead cornstalks, especially under their leaf sheaths and in their 

 husks. There is no doubt that many individuals also hibernate 

 among dead grass, along terraces and borders of fields. They are 

 not found in any great numbers in any one place during this season 

 of the year, but are fairly well scattered, so much so that it is a 

 difficult matter to find any quantity of them at any one time. The 

 bugs apparently feed but little during winter but remain hidden 

 until the warm spring sun arouses them to activity and they pre- 

 pare for their spring migration. 



DISSEMINATION. 



This insect migrates from its winter quarters to grain fields princi- 

 pally by flight. The adults of the hibernating generation apparently 

 consist exclusively of winged forms and are fully capable of spread- 

 ing into fields of forage and grain. Thus far no short-winged in- 

 dividuals have been found among the spring migrants. The exact 

 time when migration takes place in spring has not been definitely 



