60 
viduals will be observed. In some instances the numbers are so great 
that not only is the surface of the ground literally covered, but thev 
are piled on each other. If disposed to fly, which is not often the 
case, it sometimes becomes necessary to protect the nostrils of the 
horses at work in the fields. Those who have never witnessed a move¬ 
ment of this kind have a very faint idea of the immense numbers of 
individuals there are, and the vast army of insects a single field of 
wheat has been feeding. Simply as a matter of curiosit}^ I have made 
a calculation in order to ascertain the number of individuals on a giv¬ 
en area. Suppose it to be the side of a field forty rods long from which 
they were issuing and that they covered the ground completely, but 
singly, for a width of one rod, this would give at least 175,000,000 in¬ 
dividuals. 
The brood which arises from the eggs which these deposit may be 
called the “fair or “second brood,” and is that which, in the perfect 
state, passes the w r inter. 
Natural Agencies which Assist in their Destruction. 
Many insects are subject to the attacks of other insects which are 
termed parasites. Unfortunately this little pest seems to be followed 
by no such relentless enemies as pursue the Army-worm, the Plant- 
lice, etc. Even the carniverous species which wage such an incessant 
warfare against the rest of the insect tribes seem to have little or no 
taste tor such an unsavory morsel as a Chinch-bug, and if we judge 
them bv our own nasal organs we cannot blame them. Still there are 
a. few that now T and then prey upon them, but even these do not ap 
pear to follow up the work very vigorously. Among these X 
we may mention as the most valuable, some species of La-— ' 
dy-bugs, as the Spotted Lady-bug ( Hippodamia maculota. r • 
DeG.), the Trim Lady-bug (Coccinella munda. Say.) The _ 
former species is our most common Lady-bug, oval in form, Fl jT; d J.^ ug Tr ^ 
of a brick-red color, with two black spots on the thorax larged.the line 
and ten on the wing-covers. The latter is somewhat small- ^^length.** 
er, almost hemispherical; of a clay-vellow T color without spots of any 
kind on the wings. 
According to Dr. Shinier, the Lace-winged flies (species of Chrysopa) 
prey upon Chinch-bugs. 
The Many-banded Robber (Harpactor cinctus. Fabr.) an insect with 
a curved beak and belonging to the same order as the Chinch-bugs, is 
occasionally found preying upon these insects. It is a little over half 
an inch long, of a } 7 ellowish color, having the legs marked with num¬ 
erous narrow 7 , dark bands. 
The common Quail undoubtedly feeds upon these insects to a certain 
extent; and according to Prof. Ross and others. Frogs also consume a 
large number. But, after all, the aid derived from these natural ene¬ 
mies amounts to but little. The chief natural agency to which we 
may look w r ith confidence for help against these foes, is moisture, es¬ 
pecially in the form of heavy rains. 
The testimony to the fact that rains destroy not only the young 
but the eggs and the perfect insects is too abundant tofae^any longer 
j 
