No. 115.] Ill 



to an extent of ninety per cent by a small chalcid fly, in July, a 

 species of Telenomus {American Naturalist, 1882, page 915). 



This is a very injurious species, at times, when allowed to 

 prosecute its depredations unmolested. Fortunately, much can be 

 done to mitigate its injuries. First, the parent bugs that, after 

 passing the winter as perfect insects, come forth from their hiding 

 places during the latter part of June or early July should be 

 captured and destroyed before they have deposited their eggs. 

 As they do not lay their eggs all at one time, for several days at 

 this season a search for them, where they are abundant, will be 

 repaid. They are usually to be found upon the plants near the 

 ground, or upon the ground adjacent, where they pass the day 

 hiding quietly, to come abroad at night for oviposition. Later the 

 patches of their eggs which are round and flattened on two sides, 

 may be found on the under side of the leaves and crushed. When 

 first hatched the young bugs have a green body with the head, 

 thorax, and antennae pink. At this time they are usually associated 

 in little companies. Two days after hatching the body becomes 

 ash-gray and the other portions black. 



During the fore part of July the vines should be inspected daily 

 for the egg patches and clusters of young, and if this be faithfully 

 done, most of the future damage from the insects will be prevented. 

 The bug molts four times before it obtains its wings and the color 

 and form which is so familiar to most gardeners during the months 

 of September and October. A figure of it may be found in 

 Dr. Harris' Insects Injurious to Vegetation, edition of 1862, page 

 194, together with an interesting account of it. 



Another method of reducing the number of the bugs is to trap 

 them by laying pieces of board on the ground near the hills and 

 examining them morning and evening. Still better success is 

 said to attend trimming off the lower leaves that touch the ground 

 and spreading them under the plants. As the bugs display a 

 special fondness tor wilted leaves they may often be found in 

 numbers beneath them, feeding on their juices. {American Ento- 

 mologist, ii, 1870, p. 91.) 



The complaint made of the girdling of the main stalk of the 

 vine, which is effected by the bugs congregating there to suck its 

 juices, is best to be met (when they have not all been killed by the 

 methods above indicated) by drawing away the ground from the 



