BULLETIN OF THE 
No. 239 
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Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chiel / '^^. 
(PROFESSIONAL PAPER.) ^ C .t ( 
THE EGGPLANT LACE-BUG. 1 
By 
David E. Fine, 
Entomological Assistant, Truck Crop and Stored Product Insect Investigations. 
(In cooperation with the Virginia truck experiment station, Norfolk, Va.) 
INTRODUCTION. 
Injury to eggplant by lace-bugs (PL I) first attracted the attention 
of the writer during the spring and summer of 1913. In the vicinity 
of Norfolk, Va., eggplant was found to be infested by a species at that 
time undescribed. It proved to be GargapJiia solani n. sp., the des- 
ignation being given by Mr. Otto Heidemann, of the Bureau of Ento- 
mology. Owing to pressure of other work during the season of 1913 
no further attempts were made at the time to study the insect to any 
great extent, but it was noted to feed extensively on eggplant, the 
leaves of which turn yellow and finally shrivel up. During the spring 
and summer of 1914 it again came under observation, investigation 
proving it to be widely distributed in Tidewater Virginia. In fact, 
wherever eggplant was grown on a commercial scale the lace-bugs 
were feeding. It was then considered advisable to make a careful 
study of the habits of this insect in view of its wide economic impor- 
tance, and at the same time to devise and test methods for its control. 
NATURE OF ATTACK. 
In the early nymphal stages lace-bugs resemble the young of 
aphides; and since they procure their food by suction, the injury re- 
sulting to the plants (Pis. II, III) is indicated by a characteristic 
yellowing of the leaves. All stages may be found on the underside 
of the leaves, and in the nymphal stages, particularly, they always 
feed in original colonies as hatched. The first stage of injury appears 
in the form of circular discolored areas of about the size of a silver 
quarter. Such a leaf when examined will show a mass of eggs, and 
1 Gargaphia solani Heidemann. 
Note.— This bulletin deals with a new enemy of eggplant and related plants. It will be of interest 
wherever these plants are grown commercially. 
91733°— Bull. 239—15 
