CHINCH BUG 233 



the deposition of eggs in such weeds and grasses as are commonly 

 found in marshy places. Corn planted on ground not previously in- 

 fested may be attacked by the winged generation, but no serious dam- 

 age usually follows. 



THE CHINCH BUG (Blissus leucopterus). The injury due to 

 the chinch bug varies from year to year. Some states have suffered 

 some fifteen to twenty million dollars loss in a single year. Its 

 ravages are worse during continued dry spells, and corn plants at- 

 tacked by it present an exceedingly wilted appearance, correspondnig 

 exactly to what might be expected from continued drought. The sap 

 may be completely drawn out of the growing plant by this sucking 

 insect, the result being that whole fields will be flattened to the ground. 

 Corn is especially liked and not uncommonly attacked by the chinch 

 bug. Beginning on one side an army of these insects may lay low an 

 entire field. 



The adult, which has passed the winter concealed under old rub- 

 bish, comes forth in the spring very early. By the last of April the 

 female begins to deposit eggs and continues laying throughout the 

 month of May. These eggs are usually deposited at the base of 

 young wheat plants, or of other small grains. By the middle of May 

 the first eggs begin to hatch. The eggs being laid at no regular in- 

 tervals, broods do not appear in order, but young are found in all 

 stages of development. When it first hatches, the chinch bug is very 

 red in color and exceedingly small. As it matures it goes through 

 a process of moulting until the adult stage is reached at the time of 

 the fourth moult. The adult has wings and winters over to lay the eggs 

 the following spring. Its color varies, the head and thorax being 

 black, and a black blotch is seen at the middle of each side. The 

 center of the back presents a white cross. The old chinch bugs which 

 winter over are most all gone by the middle of June. The eggs of 

 the second generation are generally laid in the corn field at the base 

 of any weeds or gras^ growing in the row. The young chinch bug 

 of the first generation feeds upon the small grain and after the fields 

 are harvested the corn fields are more likely to be attacked. The 

 young of the generation feeds for a time upon the weeds and grass, 

 then attacks the corn directly. 



Prevention and Remedy. The rise and fall of a siege of chinch 

 bugs varies, the period of annual increase being longer than the per- 

 iod of decline. They may get more numerous continually for three 

 or four years, and then suddenly disappear. Premises kept free from 

 rubbish are less inviting as wintering quarters for the adult bugs 

 which hibernate and lay the eggs the following spring. To prevent 



