101 



writes under date of July 17 that this species, specimens of which were sent, was 

 attacking yellow mustard (Brassica sinapistrum) this year in that vicinity. Plats 

 that were attacked early while they were in blossom did not perfect any seed. The 

 sap was sucked from the leaves. 



August 14, our correspondent stated that injury had been noticed prior to the 

 present year, but that the insect had never been so numerous. In all cases when the 

 mustard was attacked when about a foot high, the leaves dropped off and the plant 

 died. If the plant was full grown, or nearly so, the insect had less effect upon it. 

 Our correspondent had not seen this insect upon any other plant of the mustard or 

 any other family. 



The Big Bed bug of the Far West.— August 15, 1898, Dr. G. W. Harvey, of Salt 

 Lake City, Utah, sent specimens of C on orhin u s protr actus Uhler, with the information 

 that the species inhabits houses and barns of the southern part of that State. It is 

 said by some to be an enemy of the bedbug, killing every one that is found, but this 

 is not yet verified, although our correspondent admits that it may be true. The 

 species closely resembles the so-called blood-sucking cone-nose, or big bed bug, C. 

 sanguisuga, of the middle western States, and doubtless has very much the same 

 habits and life history. 



Nysius californicus Injurious to Lettuce. — August 9, 1898, Mr. Luca Descalsi, of 

 Santa Eosa, Sonoma County, Cal., sent specimens of this species, which is a near 

 relative of the so-called false chinch bug, Nysius angustatus, with the accompanying 

 information that the species was injurious to lettuce in his vicinity. Our corre- 

 spondent stated that he was able to raise nearly as many of the insects as of salad 

 seeds. 



Leaf-hopper injury to Potatoes. — July 13,1898, Mr. Millis Knickerbocker, New 

 Lenox, 111., sent specimens of the leaf-hopper, Empoasca viridescens, with the accom- 

 panying information that it was destructive to potatoes in that section and had been 

 injurious for several years. 



The Hawthorn Tingis injuring Quince.— August 17, 1898, we received at this office 

 from Mr. S. S. "Wilson, of Libonia, Pa., specimens of CorytJiuca arcuata Say., with the 

 report that it was injuring the leaves of quince in that vicinity. The leaves sent 

 with the specimens showed primary injury by the common pear slug, and the Tin- 

 gitid was therefore all the more injurious. About 75 trees were affected, and injury 

 was spreading. Fear was expressed that the entire orchard might be ruined. This 

 species was treated in the Eeport of this Department for 1879, pp. 221-222, and is 

 figured at Plate IV, figures 2 and 3, of the same report. 



The Wheat Thrips injuring Plums in Florida.— March 31, 1898, Messrs. McLean & 

 Co., sent us from Conant, Fla., specimens of Thrips tritici Fitch, with the report that 

 this insect had caused injury to the plum crop on their farm of 500 trees for six years, 

 the insect being most abundant and injurious on the so-called "Satsuma blood." 

 Other varieties of plums appeared to escape injury, owing to their blooming earlier. 

 Injury begins with the first blooming of the trees, and the blossoms are soon destroyed. 

 An average of 20 individuals were counted on a single bloom. 



The so-called "Cotton Flea."— Through the kindness of the Hon. J. D. Mitchell, 

 of Victoria, Tex., we have learned that the delicate little Capsid plant-bug known 

 as Psallus delicatus Uhler, is locally known in Texas cotton fields as the u cotton 

 flea." Mr. Mitchell writes concerning their work during the past season that they 

 commenced upon the cotton as soon as it was ready to bloom, about May. They 

 slacked up in July and disappeared about the middle of August. According to our 

 correspondent, they go into the eud of the growing limb and suck the juice from the 

 embryo buds, which turn black and fall off as soon as they grow out far enough. 

 The evidence concerning this statement is circumstantial, as the insect itself has not 

 been observed at work. In all fields where these insects were numerous, not a bloom 

 appeared ; where they were not numerous a few flowers matured ; and since the insects 

 disappeared those fields bloomed out fully. Only certain sections were attacked ; so 

 far as observed, only sandy fields were infested. 



