16 MISC. PUBLICATION 318, U. 8S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
Harlequin bug.—The harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica) , order 
Hemiptera, is about three-eighths of an inch long and is black with 
¢ large orange, red, and yellow markings. It is a suck- 
ing insect, and has four wings. The adults fly, and both 
adults and young crawl readily. The adults and the 
full-grown nymphs are active throughout the winter 
when the days are warm. On cold days, or in the 
northern limits of their distribution, the bugs hide in 
old cabbage plants, weeds, and other debris. This pest 
is rather severe in the Southern States but can be 
partially controlled by field sanitation, trap crops, cul- 
tural practices, and sprays such as rotenone extracts. 
FIGURE 33.— 5 : ‘ 
Harlequin bug. If obtainable, sabadilla dust gives good control. 
Water bug.—Occasionally around electric lights 
one finds a grayish-brown bug about 2 inches long. 
This insect is often called the giant water bug or 
electric-light bug. The specific name is Lethocerus 
americanus. It has four wings; flies; overwinters 
as a nymph or adult in trash, mud, or pools of 
water; has incomplete life changes, and may be 
considered a pest when it at- 
tacks fish, snails, ete., in 
ponds and aquariums. The 
larvae of this insect are 
water loving and feed on va- 
rious forms of water life. 
This insect belongs to the 
order Hemiptera. 
Masked Hunter.—Another of the true bugs 
is the masked hunter (2edwvius personatus). 
It is from one-half to three-fourths of an inch 
long and is black, has sucking mouth parts, 
four wings, and can fly. This insect is bene- 
ficial because it feeds on various household and 
cereal insects. It overwinters as a nymph or 
HicurE 34.— Water bug. 
Higune 39---Masked Suniel -adult under trash: ands the likes alnoe tire 
changes are incomplete. This insect belongs to the order Hemiptera. 
Squash bug.—Practically every grower of squash has seen a rather 
large, elongated, dark-gray insect, and oftentimes 
clusters of small lighter gray spiderlike pests feed- 
ing on his squash. These insects, like all other in- 
sects of the order Hemiptera, have incomplete life 
changes and sucking mouth parts. The adult in- 
sect 1s about one-half an inch long. The adults of 
this group have four wings and fly readily when 
disturbed. Both the adults and the nymphs feed 
on the leaves, fruits, and vines of squash and 
related plants. The adult insects overwinter be- 
neath rubbish and loose bark of logs. They may 
be partially controlled by use of contact sprays and 
cultural practices. If obtainable, sabadilla dust 
gives good control. The common squash bug 
shown here is Anasa tristis , Rigune S6eee eae 
