18 
A liberal use of fertilizers in an infested field will often aid the 
injured plants to recuperate from insect attack. Unfortunately, injury 
is not apt to be detected until it is far advanced and the plants begin 
to die. As soon, therefore, as a plant shows weakness its stalk should 
be split open to ascertain the cause. 
It should be remembered that early potatoes are more subject to 
injury than later ones, and that the latest varieties are practically 
exempt from injury. 
THE NORTHERN LEAF-FOOTED PLANT-BUG. 
(Leptoglosms oppositm Say.) 
During the season of 1900 this injurious species of plant-bug occurred 
in great abundance in and about the District of Columbia, and was 
also reported to be troublesome in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 
After the publication of the writer's first article on this insect (Bul- 
letin No. 19, n. s., pp. -14-46), it was brought to his attention, first by 
correspondence and afterwards hy observation, that the species of 
Leptoglossus subsist in all their stages preferably upon the fruit of 
the plants subject to their attack. The first intimation of this fact came 
from correspondence with Mr. Henry J. Gerling, St. Charles. Mo., 
who wrote under date of August 8, 1899. that L. oppositys Avas attack- 
ing the fruit of cucumber and the fruit and buds of nest-egg gourd in 
his vicinity. When first observed the nymphs were about a quarter 
of an inch long and blood-red in color. After they had pierced the 
fruit, a waxy secretion exuded from the wounds, such exudation often 
showing all over the fruit affected. 
We have now, as a result of recent investigation, a knowledge of the 
full life history of the species, which will be presented in detail. 
INJURY DURING 1899 AND 1900. 
Damage by this plant-bug to gourd and cucumber at St. Charles, 
Mo., in 1899 has already been mentioned. The fruits or vegetables 
from which our material was obtained were said to be literally cov- 
ered with the insects. September 13, 1899, Mr. F. C. Pratt observed 
attack to the fruit of cucumber at Alexandria, Va. September 25 we 
received from Mr. Thos. I. Todd. Athens, Ga., specimens of nymphs 
in different stages, with the report that this insect was injuring the 
stems of young watermelon. 
In 1900, Mr. H. Guibor. House Springs. Mo., sent the young of this 
species, June 14. mostly in the second stage of the nymph, but with 
one in the third stage, with the report that they were attacking the 
fruit of pear. June 25, Mr. John G. Bauranel, Clarksville, Johnson 
County, Ark., sent specimens with the statement that this plant-bug 
was preying upon peach and cantaloupe in that locality. Peaches, 
■when ripe, were sometimes found full of imperfect spots, manifested by 
