The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-06-17

FoURTH PAPER.
THE CHINCE BUG.--BLtssWs CIe~coPter'S'
The most formidable enemy OF the
grain growers of the great Mississippi
VALLEY is the chince bug, which In a
single year has inflicted upon the
farmers of n State-Illinois-a loss
of over $40, 900, 900. Fortunately
for u.s., this pest is less abundant in
this part of the country. 1t has,
however, in bygone years, inflicted
severe damage in this State and in
Virginia. 1t is always present, and
in very dry years it makes its pres,
ence felt. This insect has such a bad
name that farmers, when they OBSERVE
any unknown bug infesting their
grain fields, are apt to call it chlnce
bug" The true chince bug is, when
fully grown, ABOUT O~ne-seventh inch
long, black, with white wings. The
mature insects are, however, short
lived. 1t is the immature bugs that
are more commonly 9 e and known.
The young are much like the old bugs
in shape, but are smaller, reddish or
brown in color and w~ingless. The
chince bug may be easily distinguish
ed from all other outdoor insects
by it's very strong and offensive, bed
bug-like odor. The chince bug passes
the winter in the winged state, hidden
under piles of trash in the fields or
neighboring woods, in the sheashs of
stalks left in the field, in straw stacks
or corn shocks, and in the cracks and
~crevices of fences. 1t is perfectly
hardy and no amount of freezing will
kill it. 1t is, however, very suscep-
tible to moisture, and is never trouble
some on low land or during wet
seasons
In this latitude the ehince bugs
which have lain torpid during the
winter, issue from their hiding places
in March and soon afterward begin to
deposit eggs for the first brood of
young insects. The female bug bur-
rows one inch or two into the ground
and deposits her eggs upon the roots
of growing plants. S7e always selects
wheat where it is found, otherwise she
uses oats or grass. Her eggs number
about 500 and hatch out in about two
weeks. The young bugs as soon as
born insert their beaks into the tissue
of the roots upon which they find
themselves and proceed to pump out
the sap. They pump and absorb day
and night and grow ap2ce. To &C
commodate their gluttony their skin
bursts, and is cast eff Tor a larger one,
four times before the young bugs be
come full grown-which occurs when
they r about six weeks old.
Very soon after reaching maturity
the bugs pair and the females lay
eggs for the next brood. The second
brood of eggs are most frequently
laid upon the roots of corn. A third
brood OF bugs appears in The fall and
some Of these survive the winter as
already described. The disgusting
odor of the chince bug serves as an
efec;ual protection. Scarcely any
~rspacious bug or bird is known to prey
upon it. Where it appearsin danger,
Gus abundance the farmer must there.
fore depend upon his own exertions
and the help of Providence-but
chiefly upon exertion-:o save his
or p
REMEDIES.
The first and most necessary precau.
ton in fighting the chince bug is
clean fields during the winter. All
trash in the field, fence rows and
bitches, and the fallen leaves, etc., IL
neighboring woods must be burned
after cold weather has set it. Early
in spring the farm fences should be
carefully examined and the bugs
found in cracks and crevices treated
to a bath of the dilute kerosene emul.
sion. Every bug killed now is equal
to 200 bugs killed after the eggs have
been laid. If in spite of these pre-,
cautions, or for lack of them, the bugs
begin to devastate grain fields, the
best remedy is the kerosene emulsion
sprayed or sprinkled on them. The
chince bug usually emigrates from
field to field on foot and in armies.
They may be kept out of a field to-
wards which they are advancing by
pouring on the ground in front OF
them a line of liquid coal tar. The
bugs will not pass over the tar so
long as it is moist. 1t will be prudent
to dig a number of deep holes near
the line of tar on the side towards the
bugs. In trying to flank tbs tar bar.
rier they will fall into these holes and
maybe buried there. Another method
is to pillow a deep furrow between the
field and the bugs, and place dry
straw in the bottom. The bugs will
soon fill the furrow and the straw
may then be fired. This may be re.
peated as often as necessary. The
advancing army may also be crushed
by driving over them with a heavy
land roller. The driver of the animals