SUCKING BUGS INJURING THE FOLIAGE 193 
The Chinch-bug (Blissus leucopterus Say) 
One of the most destructive insects in 
the history of American farming is the 
species of sucking bug occasionally at- 
tacking corn and wheat in countless mil- 
lions, and known as the chinch-bug. 
When it is numerous, fields are blasted 
as if by fire. 
The bug that causes this damage is 
quite small, one fifth of an inch long or 
less, dark or black in color, and with 
thin, white wings folded across the body 
when at rest. In the East another form 
is found with wings much shorter. The 
immature stages are often seen with the 
adults, and differ little in shape, but are 
wingless, smaller, and when young are 
bright red. 
The adults overwinter in clumps of 
grass, fallen leaves, weeds, and rubbish 
accumulating along fence rows, strips of 
woodland, and especially in corn shocks 
left in the fields. They come from 
these places in spring, and lay eggs in 
grain fields or on suitable weeds. The 
young appear in May and June. These 
mature, and there is a second lot of 
young in August or early September. 
Where small grains are infested, the 
swarms of bugs are driven from these 
at harvest and travel in armies to corn, 
which they literally overwhelm. When 
large numbers of adults have hiber- 
nated, the most striking injury may be 
oO 
Fig. 241. — Chinch-bugs on 
corn plant. Original. 
