124 maine state college 



The Chinch Bog. 



Blissus leucopterus, Say. 



Ord. Hemiptera : Subord. Heteropteia : Fam. Lygaeidae. 



During the past season the following letters were received : 



ScARBouo, Aug. 23rd, 1892. 

 Prof. Balentine : 



Mv Dkak Sik : — I sent you a small lot of insects from North 

 Fryeburg, on Aug. 8th. I did not know how badly they were 

 destroying the grass, but find they have spread over a large part 

 of the town of Fryeburg, and that the farmers are at complete 

 loss to know what to do to stop their spread. Any advice you can 

 give them would be very thankfully received. I saw Brother B. 

 W. McKeen on Saturday last, and told him what I had done. He 

 was not aware that the damage was so great, as the bugs had not 

 got to his section. Nathaniel Frye, Fryeburg Centre, John Batch- 

 elder, or John Hastings, North Fryeburg, would probably give 

 you any information asked for. 



Yours respectfully, 



W. B. Nutter. 

 ScARBORO, Maine. 

 Prof. F. L. Harvey, 

 Orono. 

 My Dear Sir : — Your very kind letter of the 24th at hand, and 

 contents noted. The bugs you speak of were collected in a field 

 in my own town. They have been found there in years past, and 

 have done considerable damage at times. Can you give me their 

 origin, habits and remedy, if there is any? They work in the 

 grass roots, particularly Timothy hay, which they completely 

 destroy. Thanking you for your information, I am 



Yours very truly, 



B. Walker McKeen. 



We answered Mr. Nutter's letter informing him that the speci- 

 mens sent were immature forms of the Chinch-bug. We also 

 wrote Mr. McKeen and asked him to secure for us some mature 

 specimens of the insect so as to make its indentification positive, 

 and the following letters were received in answer : 



