53 
damage done us by the Chinch-bug exceeds, by many times, the in¬ 
jury done us by all our other insect foes combined. Last year my own 
wheat crop was almost entirely destroyed, and my corn crop shortened 
fully three-fourths, though my corn was quite as good as the average 
of the county. 
u 6th. I have not observed their habits with sufficient care to enable 
me to state much in regard to their “migrations,” but I am of the 
opinion that even with the perfect insect they are confined to very 
narrow limits. I have never known corn to be seriously damaged 
that was 80 rods from wheat, oats or Hungarian grass. The wingless 
ones will crawl 40 rods, at least, through weeds, flax or buckwheat, 
and they seem to go with unerring instinct in the right direction. 
Myself and some of my neighbors sowed no wheat last fall, and I have 
seen but few bugs this spring; but they are said to be in the wheat 
in myriads, and fears are entertained that they will commence mi¬ 
grating to the corn.” T. C. Ivillie. 
The following communications from Professors Washburn and Ross, 
of Ewing College, Franklin County, are of sufficient interest to justify 
their introduction here : 
Ewing College, III., June 4, 1875. 
'•3d. There were three broods in 1874. The first appeared in very 
great quantities about the last of May. The second in still greater 
quantities about the first of August. The third brood appeared about 
the middle of September. R. Riclieson, Esq., says that a small brood 
was produced in April, an unprecedented event in the history of the 
Chinch-bug. 
4th. Various measures have been used to check their ravages, but 
none have proved very successful. Some of the farmers in this vicin¬ 
ity burned their woodlands early in the spring to destroy the bugs 
that were hibernating in the leaves. We suppose they destroyed 
many but a vast number escaped that w r ere harbored elsewhere. 
Ditching has proved most effectual in checking their migrations be¬ 
fore they reach the winged state. Loose, well-pulverized dirt is left 
in a ditch about 18 inches wide by one foot in depth. This dirt being 
on the sides of the ditch and becoming hot and dry causes the bugs, in 
attempting to cross, to accumulate in large quantities in the bottom 
of the ditch. Then a smooth, straight log is dragged along in the 
ditch, which destroys them by thousands. 
bth. Their migrations in the creeping state scarcely ever exceed 
80 rods. These migrations are made in quest of food, as they do not 
go in any uniform direction. In their winged state they seem to scat¬ 
ter, seeking suitable places for depositing their eggs. If in this state 
they move in any general direction, it seems to be the result of pre¬ 
vailing winds. 
After considerable care and attention, with the aid of our very ob¬ 
serving and intelligent friend R. Richeson, Esq., who has been study¬ 
ing the Chinch-bug for many years, we are enabled to give the above 
answers which are respectfully submitted. 
Prof Ross will supplement the above by giving some interesting 
facts connected with the history of the Chinch-bug.” 
