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Recommendations have even gone so far as to suggest the removal of 
hedges to prevent chinch bugs using these as favorable locations for 
hibernation. All such measures seem to be of comparatively little 
value under the circumstances. Knowing that the chinch bug nor- 
mally selects grass stools for its winter retreat, the burning over of 
such grass land would immediately suggest itself as an effective means 
of destroying the insect, and in a measure such action is advisable. 
To be at all successful, however, the burning should be done after a 
prolonged dry spell, so that the heat will penetrate well into the stools, 
otherwise many of the insects will escape because of being so deeply 
buried between the stalks and partly protected by earth and moisture. 
The burning should preferably be done during midwinter and after a 
succession of warm days, which might result in the emergence of the 
bugs from their deeper recesses under the influence of light and 
warmth. Early burning — that is, in December or January — is advisable, 
to longer subject the bugs escaping the action of the fire to the destruc- 
tive agency of the winter storms, which should have good effect in 
the absence of the very great protection normally afforded by the grass. 
The life-cycle of this insect for central Kansas may be summarized as 
follows : 
April 10-20, spring flight from hibernating quarters in grass stools 
to wheatfields. 
April 20-30, in coitu about the roots of wheat. 
May 1-31, deposition of eggs on wheat roots beneath surface of the 
soil, with young hatching from May 15 to June 15. 
July 1-15, maturing of the first brood, followed immediately by the 
midsummer flight, if a migration of immature and adult forms has not 
been previously occasioned by the harvesting of grain or the local fail- 
ure of the food supply. 
July 15-30, union of the sexes and deposition of eggs in the soil about 
late corn or millet, the young of this brood appearing in maximum 
numbers about August 5. 
August 20-September 10, maturing of the second brood and partial 
flight of same to late corn or other green crops if in fields of corn 
already mature and dying. 
September 15 to October 15, autumnal flight to grass lauds and con- 
cealment m stools for hibernation. 
