54 



Thomas, Cyrus. — Insects Injurious to the Vegetable Garden. 

 (Trans. 111. State Hort. Soc, 1877, v. 11. p. 176.) 



Chinch bug mentioned as often doing serious injury in the 

 garden. 



Thomas Cyrus. — [Chinch Bug. BUssus leiicopteri{S,Sa.y.'] (Seventh 

 Eept. State Ent. Ill, 1877, pp. 5, 16-19, 40-71.) 



No considerable appearance of chinch bugs since the scourge 

 of 1874. They never occur in such overwhelming numbers as then 

 except where two favorable years for their increase occ^ir in suc- 

 cession, and the intervening winter is the time to apply the rem- 

 edy. Refers to the verification of his predictions for 1876 and 

 1877 (comparative immunity from chinch-bug injury), and thinks 

 the probabilities are that the insect will not prove injurious for 

 a year or two. Estimates damage to the corn crop alone, in 

 Illinois, in 1874, to be not less than $20,000,000. Unquestionably 

 the most formidable insect enemy of the Illinois farmer. Quotes 

 descriptions of imaero by Say and LeBaron; mentions its early 

 appearance as recorded by Fitch, Say, and Harris; and gives 

 account of the history of the species in Illinois, as recorded in 

 various agricultural journals, including quotations from LeBaron's 

 2d Report, —1840 being given as the date of first appearance here 

 in injurious numbers. Gives copy of circular of inquiry sent to 

 various counties in 1875 concerning chinch-bug injury, number of 

 broods observed, remedies used, etc., and gives quotations from 

 replies received. Three broods are reported in a number of 

 instances, and in Franklin county, "a small brood was produced 

 in April, — an unprecedented event in the history of the chinch 

 bug." (1) Descriptions of various stages and varieties. (2) 

 Number of broods and hibernation: two-brooded, with some evi- 

 dence of a third; hibernates in the adult stage, and appears 

 in spring, from middle of March to May or June, according to 

 latitude and character of season. (3) First brood hatch from 

 eggs deposited by hibernating individuals, maturing in from five 

 to seven weeks. (4) Migrations: Before the females of the 

 first brood deposit their eggs they migrate,— almost always on 

 foot and primarily in search of a more abundant food supply. 

 Occasionally they take to flight, which is more common some years 

 than others, depending largely on the weather and somewhat, per- 

 haps, upon the time of their amours. (4) The natural agencies 

 which assist in their destruction are lady bugs, lace-winged flies, 

 the many-banded robber, quails, frogs, and rains, — the latter the 

 chief natural agency which works against the chinch bug, destroy- 

 ing eggs, young, and adults. (5) The remedies mentioned are 

 burning in Avinter quarters (corn stalks, straw, and other rnbbish), 

 drenching when practicable, — if fire cannot be used, and other 

 measures as given in LeBaron's 2d Report (3d Rept. State Kut. 

 111.), from which he quotes at length. [See ante page 58, 1872 

 LeBaron. | He agrees with LeHaron that topical applications as 

 a check to the chinf;!! bug are labor lost; says that fumigating is im'- 



