The Bulletin 
113 
that the larvse had died from the want of proper food and the fungus 
had only attacked the larvae or the pupae secondarily. Concerning this 
point, Webster (1912) quotes Dr. Chittenden as follows: 
“In another instance, during the last week of August, larvae of this 
same species were dying and specimens were referred to Dr. Haven 
Metcalf, a Pathologist in the Bureau of Plant Industry, who stated 
that they were apparently free from fungi, and that while there was a 
possibility of the presence of a bacterial disease, such presence could 
not be established at that stage. Examination, however, revealed the 
fact that the bodies of the larvse were fairly reeking with nematodes, 
and it is not impossible that these are the cause of the insect fatality.” 
In our observations no nematodes have been found either in the 
insectary or in the field. A condition similar to the above seems to be 
very prevalent among young larvae, especially late in the season, and 
for this reason we have concluded that the death of the larvae was due 
to poor food. 
Toads also abound in corn-fields infested with corn bill bugs, but 
there are no direct observations to show that toads eat corn bill bugs in 
any stage. Neither has the examination of toads’ stomachs revealed 
the presence of bill bugs. As a matter of fact, from direct observa¬ 
tions one would almost conclude that the toad’s eyesight was not good 
enough to distinguish the slow moving bill bug, whose natural color is 
so similar to the soil in which it lives. Attempts to feed bill bugs to 
toads have always resulted in the toad ignoring the bill bug. 
Only one bird other than the domesticated fowls has been recorded 
as feeding on corn bill bugs. According to Webster (1912), “Mr. 
W. L. McAtee of the Biological Survey has recorded the findings of 
Sphenophorvs callosus in the stomach of the nighthawk ( Chlordeiles 
acutipennis texensis ) at Wallaceville, Texas, August 4, 1907. This 
is the only exact record obtainable of the eating of this species by birds.” 
Nighthawks are very common in the eastern part of this State, espe¬ 
cially late in the season. But their well known habits of catching their 
prey on the wing has earned for them the distinctive name, “Bull Bat.” 
This habit would seem to preclude these birds from being considered 
as important enemies of the bill bugs, unless, as pointed out in another 
connection, the bill bug has a fall dispersal flight, which would natur¬ 
ally come at about the same time as the greatest abundance of night- 
hawks, due to their southern migration. 
Chickens and turkeys are believed by many farmers to be important 
enemies of bill bugs, and this may well be true, but we have made no 
direct observations on this point. One farmer in the eastern part of 
the State says that several years ago he had to yard his chickens to 
prevent them from running in a corn-field badly infested with corn 
bill bugs, for the bill bugs frequently lodged in the throat of the chickens 
or apparently attached themselves to the tongues with their sharp 
mandibles in such a wav as to choke the chickens. 
t/ 
