142 THE STUDY OF INSECTS, 



fields. In orange-groves heaps of cotton-seed as well as 

 pieces of sugar-cane will be found useful ; the insects will 

 collect in these places and can be scalded to death. 



Family LYGiElD^ (Ly-gae'i-dae). 



The Chinch-bug Family. 



This, too, is a large family, about one hundred and 

 fifty species being known to occur in the 

 United States. Here the membrane of the 

 wing-covers is furnished with four or five simple 



Fig. 173. . n • i • ^ ^ -. 1 r ,\ 



vems, whicn arise trom the base of the mem- 

 brane ; sometimes the two inner veins are joined to a cell 

 near the base (Fig. 173). 



This family contains the Chinch-bug, Blissus leucopterus 

 (Blis^sus leu-cop'te-rus), the most destructive member of the 

 Heteroptera occurring in the United States. 

 Although quite widely distributed, its injuries 

 have attracted most attention in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, where it has destroyed many 

 million dollars' worth of grain. It is a small pj^ ^^^bhssus 

 bug, measuring less than one sixth of an inch if^<:opterus. 

 in length. In Figure 174 it is represented slightly enlarged 

 and greatly enlarged. It is blackish in color, with snowy- 

 white wing - covers, each marked with a dark spot and 

 Y-shaped line, as shown in the figure. The species is di- 

 morphic, there being a short-winged form. 



There are two generations of the Chinch-bug each year ; 

 they winter as full-grown insects and hide under rubbish. 

 In the early spring they come forth and lay their eggs in 

 fields of grain upon the roots or stems beneath the ground. 

 The eggs hatch in about two weeks. The nymphs are red, 

 and feed at first upon roots ; afterwards they attack the 

 stalks of the plants they infest. In about fifty days they 

 get their growth. About this time the whole brood starts 

 out to find new pastures, and they all march on foot in one 

 direction, like an army. Although they are tiny insects they 



