4 
The chinch BUG was not heard of from farmers anywhere in % 
State, nor found unusually abundant by us in our-field observations. 
As a contribution to the life history of the species in “off years, 
the following memoranda for 183B and 1884, are worthy of record, 
During the former year we first noted the chinch bug on the 14th 
of March, in Central Illinois. The adults were still in their winter 
quarters, occurring about roots in matted grass under old boards 
and rubbish. April 10, in Southern Illinois, they were still found 
in the rubbish of strawberry fields, and occasionally among deal 
leaves in the woods. On the 20th of that month, a very few were 
encountered in wheat fields near Carbondale. On the 2bth, at 
Normal, they were still collected by the hundred, under boards, not 
having ’yet emerged from their winter quarters in Central Illinois. 
Indeed, on the 7th of the following month, we found them there in 
the same situation, and in rubbish about wild strawberry plants. 
On the 20th May. at Centralia, I saw a few adults in wheat 
fields, and on the'24th, at Decatur, they were relatively abundant 
in wheat at the bases of the plants, many of them coupled. 
Specimens placed alive in an empty vial soon deposited their eggs, , 
but careful search about the roots of the plants failed to discover 
any, and it is probable that oviposition was but just beginning. On I 
the 6th June, adults were found quite numerous just beneath the 
surface of the ground, about young corn in the field. Many of 
these were pairing and laying their eggs about the roots. On the 
19tli June, young chinch bugs emerged from eggs deposited the 
23d of the preceding month. On the 23d June, we found the adults, 
still pairing, in corn fields, and young individuals very numerous 
between the sheath of the lower leaf and the stalk. On the 26th, 
at Warsaw, the adults were still to be seen among the roots of 
wheat, together with many young in the first stage. A few chinch 
bug eggs were also found in the same situation; and adults stiil 
occurred at this season among the roots of corn. On the 29th, at 
Godfrey, Illinois, a few miles above St. Louis, young chinch bugs 
were noted frequently in wheat fields, mostly in the first stage, (that 
immediately following the egg), but a few in the second. Adults 
were also still occasionally to be found. On the 2d July, the young 
were noted as still occurring beneath the sheaths of corn, none 
having yet emerged to the outer surface. All the stages were now 
found in wheat fields, although pupae were relatively rare. On the 
25th July, in Northern Illinois, young were found beneath the 
sheaths of the leaves of corn, mostly in the second stage. From 
this time to October 1, a hiatus occurs in our observations for lew, 
but at the latter date all sizes still occurred upon the corn, con¬ 
cealed beneath the bases of the leaves, ranging in age from adults 
to those newly hatched. On the 11th November, both imagos ami 
pupae were found hibernating under the bark of an old log at Noi- 
mal. 
In 1884, considerable numbers were found March 24, under boards 
at Normal, scattered under leaves and rubbish in woods, and m 
similar situations. They were apparently less numerous than even 
the year before. April 14, adults were seen under boards and rub¬ 
bish in Southern Illinois. May 9 and 10, they were occasions ) 
obtained by sweeping grass, having evidently now emerged ho 
