12 
THE CHINCH BUG. 
the State, where 1 have collected Hemiptera extensively with the sweep-net. Dr. 
Rivers, curator of the museum at our State University, writes me that three years 
ago he took three specimens of a bug that looked much like the Chinch Bug, hut was 
darker and smaller, and he does not believe that they belonged to this species; they 
were taken in Sonoma County, and were sent off, he knows not where. He has col- 
lected Hemiptera extensively since then, but the Chinch Bug is not among them. 
Mr. Wickson, editor of the Pacific Rural Press, writes me that he has “ never seen a 
specimen nor heard of one as being recognized 'by an observer whom I would con- 
sider as capable of recognizing the insect.” * 
Since writing the above we have learned from Mr. Uhler that he has 
seen specimens of the Chinch Bug from California of a long- winged form, 
which were collected near San Francisco, probably by Mr. Henry Ed- 
wards. He has also seen specimens from Cuba and from Tamaulipas, 
Mexico. 
FOOD PLANTS. 
The Chinch Bug will feed upon all grains and grasses so far as known. 
The most prominent crops which are seriously injured are Wheat, Barley, 
and Indian Corn. The testimony in regard to Oats is conflicting, but 
Le Baron’s conclusion to the elfect that u if this grain be sown where 
Chinch Bugs abound, and especially if it is sown exclusively, it will be 
damaged to a greater or less extent the first year, but that the bugs will 
probably not continue to breed in it to any great extent in succeeding 
years” is unquestionably correct. Broom-corn, Sorghum, Chicken corn, 
Hungarian grass, Millet, Rye, Rice, Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon ), 
Fox-tail grass (Setaria glauca ), Timothy (Phloeum pratense), Blue-grass 
(Poa pratensis), Crab grass ( Panicum sangninale ), Bottle-grass ( Setaria 
viridis ), and all of our wild grasses, so far as known, are attacked, but 
beyond these no food plant has ever been authentically recorded. Re- 
ports of damage done to other crops, such as grape vines and garden 
crops, are the result of mistaken identity, and an error in the compila- 
tion of Packard’s Guide to the Study of Insects has doubtless done much 
to perpetuate the idea that this insect is a more general feeder. This 
was corrected in the later editions of this work, probably at the sug- 
gestion in Professor Riley’s criticism in his 7th Rept. Ins. Mo., p. 26. 
Upon the Sand Oats (TJniola paniculata) in Florida Mr. Schwarz no- 
ticed that the entire development of the insect is undergone upon the 
highest part of this tall plant and not close to the bottom as in our lat- 
itude. The probable reason for this, as he has pointed out, is, that 
the strong winds are continually blowing fiue, sharp sand through the 
lower parts of the plants, rendering it impossible for the bugs to remain 
at these places and forcing them to seek their nourishment higher up. 
Concerning Timothy and the Crab-grasses Professor Forbes says: 
It seems to prefer timothy to blue -grass, not really relishing either as a general 
thing, and takes to the crab-grasses ( Panicum ) not at all, or only as a last resort. 
(Bull. No. 2, State Ent. 111.) 
This generalization is undoubtedy correct for Illinois and the sur- 
rounding States, but, as Professor Forbes himself points out in a foot- 
