back to June. 1882. Unfortunately, however, the locality from which 



the insects were received was, not obtained. 



• In June of 1884 this species was discovered on wheat at Cabin John 

 Bridge, Md., though not in sufficient numbers to cause any appreciable 

 damage. During 1 summer and fall of the same year, and January of 

 1885, specimens were observed by Prof. F. M. Webster at Oxford. Ind.. 

 on wheat transferred from the field to breeding cages, in which they 

 continued to breed and multiply, enabling him to make some interesting 

 observations on the rapidity of reproduction of the species. On isolat- 

 ing some pupae, which soon became winged, he found that during the 

 following- twenty days they produced about -In young, or at a rate of 

 1 to 1 a day: as a rule, however, the apterous or wingless females are 

 still more prolific. 



During June of 1890, after an intermission of about five or six 

 years, this grain louse again became quite abundant, and was found in 

 Indiana by Professor Webster in injurious numbers upon wheat at 

 Lafayette and in southern portions of the State, while in Posey 

 County, in the extreme southwestern section, they were so numerous, 

 both on the fully developed and on the tender unfolding leaves of 

 wheat, as to cover them in some cases completely. The oat crop was 

 a total failure; many of the fields were as brown as though the plants 

 had been winterkilled. Daring the same year they spread over a 

 large area of some of the grain-producing States of the South. They 

 were first reported about the middle of January by Mr. P. C. New- 

 kirk, Jalapa, Monroe County. Tenn.. as being very injurious, killing 

 all the wheat in his section. The following March he wrote again 

 that the insects had not been able to survive the heavy rains and frost 

 of the month, as far as he could see. though much damage had been 

 done to wheat, patches the size of an acre or more being apparently 

 dead, and he had doubts that one of his fields would recover from the 

 damage done. 



January 29, L890, it was reported by Mr. P>. F. White, Mebane, 

 Alamance County. X. C. as ruining all the wheat and oats there. 

 February 26 specimens of this insect were sent to this office by Mr. 

 J. L. Fookes. Era, Cook County, Tex., with the statement that the 

 species had played sad havoc with the wheat in that section. In a 

 communication oi the 31st of March Mr. Fookes writes: 



Ynu ask me about the amount of damage done to the crop and how long they 

 have abounded in our fields. It is believed now that they have been in the fields 

 since early fall; they still remain in great numbers in some fields. As to the 

 amount of damage, we place it. after a careful estimate, at 75 per cent in one-half <a* 

 this county, which includes the wheat belt One-half will he planted in other 

 crop- and the remainder will he about one-half stand. There are some small crops 

 of Fultz .vheat which are not hurt. The rest of the crop i- Mediterranean wheat. 



Early in April specimens were received from Mr. 1). J. Eddleman, 

 Denton, Denton County. Tex., with the statement tlmt the species was 



