55 
washed down from their places, distorted in shape, sunken into the 
soil and many decomposed,—probably not more than one in ten of the 
first I saw had developed into a young bug. I examined many stalks 
and found no eggs at all. I could easily tell the eggs that were spoiled. 
Abundant evidence is at hand in proof of their destruction in the egg 
state by rain. 
“Mr. Richeson has made the following careful observations: In 
1859 Perry county, and the west side of Franklin county, had no rains 
about the time of the first hatching of eggs about June 1. The east¬ 
ern part of Franklin, and the contiguous sections of Saline, Hamilton 
and Jefferson counties had abundant rains at this time. That year 
the Chinch-bug badly injured the crops of Perry, while excellent 
crops were made in the other counties. The same observation was 
made in Bond county in 1864-65. No rains occurred at this particu¬ 
lar time and they were forced to'send much stock to this county 
(Franklin). The following year, 1866, plenty of rain fell about the 
first of June in Bond county, and a double crop was made. 
“The egg of a Chinch-bug is at first of a bone color, afterwards, of a 
reddish color, when the bug embryo can be seen as a red speck in the 
center through the transparent covering. At first he has a white 
stripe across him, afterwards he turns to a grayish-brow T n color. About 
the first of July he sheds his outer covering and appears as a winged 
insect. Then begins his routine of population, depositing his eggs 
and producing an August brood. 
“His winter quarters are old rail fences, corn stalks, houseroofs, logs, 
leaves, etc. In spring, they feed on the nearest living vegetation, 
even before permanently leaving their winter quarters. 
“They have been taken from ice, by thawing it, and when slightly 
warmed would manifest signs of life, crawling about as in spring. 
They thus appear to be able to endure cold or heat. 
“With the abundance of rain falling this spring farmers may look 
for a good corn and oat crop. It is scarcely probable that any serious 
injury can be done by them now, especially by the first brood.” 
G. C. Ross. 
Q 
' iZ 
Numerous descriptions of the young or larva have been given, but 
that by Prof. Riley in his recent report is perhaps the most complete, 
and as it leaves nothing to add, being taken from from fresh speci¬ 
mens and including the egg, I copy it here: 
“Egg .—Average length .03 inch, elongate-oval, the diameter scarce¬ 
ly one-fifth the length. The top squarely docked and surmounted 
with four small, rounded tub¬ 
ercles near the center. Color, 
when newly laid, pale or 
whitish, and translucent, ac¬ 
quiring with age the amber 
color, and finally showing the 
red parts of the embryo, and 
especially the eyes toward 
the tubercled end. The size 
^increases somewhat after de- 
Fig 10. Chinch-bug, Larva, Pupa and Egg. a and 6 eggs; cPOSition, and will sometimes 
young larva; d tarsus ; e larva after first moult ;/ iarva rP q P U r, P q r 04 inr*h in loncrth 
after second moult; gpupa; h leg; i the beak or tub .reacn near men in lengiu. 
ular mouth. (bee fig. 10, (X 5.) 
