34 
Tt1E SQUASH BUU. 
ANASA TRISTIS, DeGEER. 
[Abstract from Bulletin 75, New York A". Exp. Station, Geneva, 
A'. Y.) 
The squash-bug is probably very well known to most Long 
Island farmers, as it has been unusually abundant on all parts of the 
Island for several years past and especially during the past season. 
Indeed, it is safe to say that this insect is known to almost every 
one for it may be found at any time of the year, either sucking the 
sap from the vines in the garden or hidden away during the winter 
months under some board or in the wood pile or beneath almost 
any rubbish that will afford protection from the cold winter winds. 
The full grown bug is about five eighths of an inch long, blackish- 
brown in color above and dull oclire-yellow beneath. When roughly 
handled or suddenly disturbed it emits a disgusting odor which 
has given it the rather undignified name of “stink bug." 
This insect is an old and well known pest to growers of squashes 
and other cucurbits. It is found throughout the United States, and 
when occurring in large numbers is to be much dreaded. In some 
localities on Long Island its work is considered at times to be 
almost as serious as that' of the squash-vine borer. Its ravages on 
the Island this past year, especially in the vicinity of Jamaica and 
Brooklyn, have been unusually severe. In this locality squashes 
are grown in abundance, forming one of the main crops. 
The squash- bug belongs to one of the largest orders of insects 
which includes more than ten thousand species found in the United 
States. To this group belong many of our most serious insect 
pests, including the plant lice and scale insects. They are known 
is true bugs, and are designated by the term Hemipt ra. The 
Ihmiptcra are partially characterized by the mouth parts being 
modified so : s to form a more or less slender beak by means of 
which the tissue of the host is punctured and the liquid on which 
they feed is sucked from beneath. Fig- 6, plate I, is a side view of 
the head and beak of a squash-bug. When at rest the beak is 
drawn up and lies along the underside of the head and thorax. 
Although usually preferring squash vines this insect is not 
infrequently found attacking melon and pumpkin vines. The bugs 
puncture the tissue with their stout beaks, inject a drop of poison- 
ous saliva and suck the sap. The poison causes the tissue in the 
vicinity of the puncture to wilt and finally die, thus causing much 
more harm than the mere loss of sap. Nearly all parts of the plant 
are liable to attack. Even the fruit does not escape, and the bugs 
a-e frequently found, on young vines especially, attacking the 
roots just below the surface of the ground. 
