1895.] Entomology. 71 
and the viscous material are emitted simultaneously, but the latter is 
peripheral and so consolidates the walls of the cavity which has the 
curved form of the abdomen. When the eggs are laid the viscous 
material continues to be shed, and on drying forms a stopper which 
protects the cavity.-—Journal Royal Microscopical Society. 
The Use of Chinch Bug Diseases.—In Bulletin No. 5 from 
the office of the State Entomologist of Illinois, Professor S. A. Forbes 
summarizes the results of years of careful experiment with the white 
muscardine disease of the Chinch Bug as follows: 
1. The white muscardine will not spread among vigerous chinch 
bugs in the field in very dry weather to an extent to give this disease 
any practical value as a means of promptly arresting serious chinch 
bug injury under such conditions. It may be added that chinch bugs 
are usually vigorous in dry weather. 
2. It is most likely to “ catch” in low spots, where the soil is kept 
somewhat moist by dense vegetation, a mat of fallen herbage, or the 
like. Shocks of corn, especially when the crop is cut early, furnish 
excellent places for the development of this disease. 
3. If decidedly wet weather follows upon its introduction, even after 
an interval of several weeks, it is likely to start up and take visible 
effect ; but continuous rains, depressing the vital energies of the insect, 
are commonly requisite to its efficient action. 
4. It is always so generally prevalent, in a more or less latent state, 
among the chinch bugs of Illinois, both north and south, that it is very 
likely to appear and spread, as if spontaneously, whenever conditions 
favorable to its development long prevail, whether it has been purposely 
introduced or not. 
5. The time elapsing between the establishment of such favorable 
conditions and the full development of the disease among the chinch 
bugs of any locality, may possibly be shortened if the infection has 
previously been introduced by any artificial means. 
6. Whatever weakens the insect favors its spread, asa rule. It is 
consequently much more likely to attack adults than young, especially 
spent males and females which have laid their eggs, and which are soon 
to die of old age; but it nevertheless often kills young of all ages. In 
agreement with the above, we have noticed that the fall generation of 
adults is less subject to it, other things being equal, than the generation 
which- matures in midsummer. As this fall brood is to live or winter 
before laying its eggs, it contains no worn-out adults. 
