Ninth Be port of the State EiSTOMOLoofst 



315 



Murgantia histrionica (Hahn.). 



The Harlequin Cahhage-bitg. 



(Ord. Hemiptera: Siibord. Heteroptera: Fain. Pentatomid.e.) 



A correspondent from New Jersey sends examples of insects which 

 are for the first time injuring his cabbages that have been put out for 



seed (not noticed on others). 

 They were recognized as the 

 insect above named, upon which 

 an article giving description, life- 

 history, habits, and other details 

 relating to it, together with the 

 accompanying illustration, is con- 

 tained in my First Report. 



The steady progress northward 

 of this cabbage pest is of interest 

 not only to entomologists, but 



9 



Fig. 8.— The Harlequin cabbage-bug. Mur- 

 gantia histrionica: a and h, the larva and pupa, 

 enlarged; c. the eggs, natural size; d. side view l- ^ ^ ^ v.u ^„.^„^ 



of the eggs showing the bands; e, end view of particularly to cabbage growers 



same, showing the lid for the escape of the larva; 

 /, the adult insect; q, the same, with expanded 

 wings. (From Riley.) 



in New York and elsewhere not 



far removed from the northern 

 boundary of its present operations. 



From Texas, where it was first observed about twenty-five years ago 

 as severely injuring the cabbage crop, it has been slowly and steadily 

 extending eastward and northward, with an annual progression that 

 within a few years will, in all probability, carry it into and over New 

 York and the New England States, and other States lying in the same 

 parallels of latitude. It was operating in Southern California several 

 years ago. It had previousl}^ been reported from Delaware, in the 

 latitude of the southern line of Pennsylvania, but this is the first 

 instance, to my knowledge, of its recognition in New Jersey, and 

 therefore worthy of special note. 



As Professor Smith has not included the species in his recent 

 " Catalogue of the Lisects of N'eio Jersey^'' published in 1890, it cer- 

 tainly has not as yet become common or notably injurious to cabbage 

 culture in the State. Woodbury, whence the insects came, is in the 

 southwestern portion of the State, a few miles south of Philadelphia. 



The date at which they were received leaves in doubt whether they 

 were hibernated individuals, or if they were matured forms of the first 

 spring brood (other broods follow through the summer). In the 

 warmerjclimate of Texas, eggs are deposited as early as the last of 

 February. The development of the insect is remarkably rapid, for 

 under favorable conditions the period from the deposit of the eggs to 

 the appearance of the mature form may be less than three weeks. 



