390 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 17 
A STILT-BUG, JALYSUS SPINOSUS SAY, DESTRUCTIVE 
TO THE TOMATO 
By C. R. Phipps, Mountain Grove , Mo. 
Abstract 
A stilt-bug, Jalysus spinosus Say is recorded as a serious pest of the tomato in 
Missouri. It is distributed from Maine to the Rocky Mountains and commonly 
occurs on the undergrowth of oak woods. It causes the blossoms to wither up and 
drop off, preventing the plants from setting fruit. The life-cycle, appearance, nature 
of injury, and control measures are briefly discussed. 
This insect was first recorded as an enemy of the tomato in Missouri, 
several years ago. Its depredations have apparently not been as severe 
or its work may have been attributed to other agencies during the past 
few seasons, for no further record of its injury appears. During the 
past summer, however, the writer’s attention was directed to it again, by 
an apparent blighting of the tomato blossoms in and around Mountain 
Grove and in other parts of the state. There was a consequent failure in 
the set of fruit and upon examination, early in July, it was found that 
there were many stilt-bugs present and that these insects were respon¬ 
sible for the damage done. 
Description 
Jalysus spinosus (Say) belongs to the family Neididae, order Heter- 
optera. The adult is a brown stilt-bug whose body, legs and antennae 
are very long and slender. The antennae are as long as the body, four- 
jointed, distinctly elbowed, have the tip of the first joint enlarged, and 
are clubbed at the ends. The beak is four-jointed with normal basal 
segment; head with a transverse incision before the ocelli. This species 
may be distinguished from others in the genus by the absence of spines on 
the vertex, and by the presence of an inclined rather than a decurved 
scutellar spine. The males are shorter and more slender than the females 
and average about 7 mm. in length. The latter average from 8 to 9 
mm. in length. 
The eggs are pale yellow or nearly white in color when first deposited 
and are about 1 mm. in length. They are cylindrical in shape and have 
convex, rounded ends as shown in PI. 4, Fig. 2. They soon become much 
darker, varying from deep yellow to nearly brown just before hatching. 
The newly hatched nymphs are about 1 mm. in length and are 
yellowish brown in color. The legs, antennae, and beak are darker, 
however. The body color becomes light green in the second instar, but 
the legs, antennae and beak undergo no change. There is no marked 
color change during the three remaining instars. 
