95 
gjinlen within several miles of Wsisliin<:^t()n in which cruciferous ])hints 
are «>towu that the writer and other niembers of the Division liave 
had occasion to visit, and is, everything* considered, by tar tljc worst 
insect pest with which the farmer has to deal. It is known locally as 
the "terrapin bug," which is often shortened to "tar'pin bug," and in 
some localities is called " lire bug," both names sufficiently suggestive 
as to require no explanation. 
Injury is very noticeable on horseradish, and if the species keeps on 
at the present rate, without an ettbrt being made to suppress it, in a 
few years it will be almost impossible to grow tliis condiment in this 
vicinity. The farmers, generally, have not awakened to the occasion, 
and have taken no measures whatever for the insect's suppression 
beyond occasional hand-picking. 
The experience of recent years shows that it is the rule with this 
species, when it has exhausted cruciferous crops, to attack whatever 
other succulent plant is most available and palatable. 
On one farm at Tennallytowu, ©. 0., an entire field of 10,000 cabbage 
plants Avas completely ruined, and when visited the first week in October 
the field was deserted. An adjoining field of potatoes was next attacked, 
and also one of eggplant, and numerous individuals (ff this bug in all 
stages were observed sucking the juices of these plants. Unripe fruit 
of eggplant appeared to be particularly relished, and ripe pods of 
okra were occasionally attacked. The bugs are also very partial* to 
certain wild plants, the pigweed (Amarantus retroflexus), wild lettuce 
(Lactuca canadensis) y3i,ud lambsquarter {Chenopodium) being favorites. 
They congregate in all stages and on all parts of these plants, but 
appear to prefer the stems. The stems of beans were attacked, as were 
also the pods. 
The value of a trap crop was exemplified the present year in a garden 
near Cabin John, Md. The insect was present in innumerable hordes 
upon a large plat of kale, and. between this plat and the cabbage grown 
in the same garden a considerable space intervened. After the kale 
had matured and the seeds had formed, the insects still remained upon 
the plants, where they could readily have been killed with crude kero- 
sene, strong kerosene emulsion, or by fire. They were permitted to 
remain there, however, and, in the course of time, found their way to 
the cabbage beds and to the radishes which gtew nearby. — [F. H. C] 
FOOD PLANTS OF THE "COTTON STAINER." 
In Volume I, Insect Life (pp. 234-241), the editors published an article 
upon Dysdercus suticrellus, especially in its relation to ripe oranges. 
It was there stated that the insect is found in the winter time in Florida 
upon two si^ecies of Hibiscus, upon Guava, upon Urena lohata, which is 
locally known as Spanish cocklebur, and upon Solanum nigrum^ locally 
known as poisonous nightshade. Mr. B. M. Hampton, of Frostproof, 
Fla., has found this insect abundant and «lestructive upon certain 
