The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-02-09
TWO GREAT PESTS.
The Agricultural Departments STUDY
of the Chinch Bug and
HeSsian Fly.

The two greatest insect pests known
20 the American farmer have been re-
ceiving the careful attention of the di-
vision of entomology of the United
States department of agriculture for
a long time. These are the chinch bug
and the Hessian fly. The department
has prepared and is about to publish
two bulletins treating respectively of
the two insects and suggesting posi-
bic remedies for checking them.
The bulletin on the chinch bug is en-
titled The Chinch Bug; its probable
origin and diffusion, its habits and de-
velopment, natural modes and remedial
and preventive measures with mention
of the habits of an allied European spe-
cies." The bulletin was prepared under
the direction of the entomologist of
the department, +. NJ. Webster, ento-
mologist of the Ohio agricultural eX-
pertinent station. The agricultural de-
partment has received many requests
for information about the chinch bug,
and the bulletin is intended 20 meet
this demand. 1t gives many new facts
concerning the life, history and dis
tribution of the species, and the whole
subject of the practical handling of its
diseases, in order to assist in its de-
stIuction, is treated at length. 1t says
that few insects have caused such pc
cuniary losses, and that no other insect
native to the western hemisphere has
spread its devastating hordes over a
wider area of country with more fatal
effect to the staple grains of North
America. 1t is widely distributed over
the world and hibernates in the adult
stage. 1t is of gregarious habits and
migrates in spring, summer and au-
tumn. When and where it lays its eggs,
the period of incubation, the different
stages of development, the development
and habits of its young, annual genera
tons and food plants, are covered by
the bulletin. In addition, it treats of
the influence of precipitation and tenn
perature on the insect; its natural enc
mics; remedial and preventive meas
ures, and describes the true and false
chinch bugs.
The bulletin says that it would APP
pear that this pest first made its pres
ence known in this country in North
Carolina in 1888, and mentions several
serious outbreaks of the bug in the
west. The estimated losses from it's
ravageS from 1850 to 1887 reach $267,-
Geo. 900. 1t also says that it is believed
that the losses up to 1898 amounted to
fully $33O,OO0,OO0. The bulletin con-
tains 10 illustrations, including maps,
showing areas infested by the chinch
bug, and the probable course of its off
fusion over North America.
The other bulletin is entitled simply,
The Hessian Fly in the United States.
1t was prepared under the direction
of the departments entomologist by
Herbert Osborn, professor of zoology
and entomology at the Agricultural col
| lege of Ames, Ia, and contains many
facts concerning the life, history, food
| habits and parasitic enemies of this
| farm pest. The bulletin says that the
Hessian fly probably ranks next to the
| chinch bug as the farm pest in the
| United States, and that its ravages in
| ether countries have long been known,
1t received its name in the belief that
it had been introduced into this country
| by the Hessan soldiers during the war
of the revolution.
| An account of its original habitat
its very wide distribution throughout
the wheat-growing districts of Europe
and America, and its means of distribu,
ton are given in the bulletin, with de-
! scriptions Of the male and female in
sccts, the eggs, the larval form and de
velopment, food plants, natural enemies
and remedies. The bulletin also con-
tains list of all the important papers
on the Hessian fly that have appeared
in America, and such of the foreign
works as are of value to the American
student. 1t is illustrated with fronts
piece, two plates and eight text figures
". y. Sun.