4 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1779. 
The insect is found at varying altitudes ranging from 9,300 feet 
at Silverton, Colo., to below sea level in the Imperial Valley of 
California. 3 
FOOD PLANTS. 
The nymphs and adults of @. sayi have been observed to feed upon 
the fruit and seeds of a wide range of cultivated plants, including 
wheat, barley, rye, 
oats, winter emmer, 
spelt, milo maize, 
/ fil kafir corn, feterita, al- 
j falfa, Sudan grass, 
aE cotton, buckwheat, 
Ss — peas, beans, cabbage, 
tomato, and _ lettuce. 
Among the native 
food plants of the 
species are Russian 
thistle (Salsola tragus 
L.), mallow (Malva 
parvifora .), pig- 
weed (Amaranthus 
spp:), . wild Seads 
(Stipa spp.), lamb’s- 
quarters (Chenopo- 
dium spp.), sheep- 
weed (Gutierrezia 
spp.), and a species 
Fic, 2.—Characteristic damage to of the honeysuckle 
wheat heads by the grain bug. (Lonicera involucrata 
Note the awns standing at an RB hee 
obtuse angle from the normal. an ) . 
i The head is dead and yellow; the Wheat barley and 
stem is alive and green. : 2 
rye appear to suffer 
| more from the depredations of C. sayi than do any 
of its other cultivated food plants. 
CHARACTER OF INJURY. 
EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF INJURED PLANTS. 
The heads of small grains that have been injured by C. sayi are 
conspicuous in the field, especially those of wheat, barley, rye, and 
oats. Soon after attack, and long before the normal period of ripen- 
ing is reached, the damaged heads assume a dull yellowish-white 
eolor and in this condition are in sharp contrast to the bright green 
of the undamaged heads. They appear normal in size with the ex- 
