The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-02-14
Two Great Agricultural Pests.


The two greatest insect pests known
to the American farmer. have been re-
ceiving the careful attention of the
Division 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 Tor checking them.
The bulletin on the chinch bug is en-
titled ''The Chinch Bug; its probable
origin and diffusion, itsIhabits and de-
velOpment, natural modes and remedial
and preventive measures, with men,
ton of the habits of allied European
species. The bulletin was prepared
under the direction of the entomolo-
gist of the department, by F. M.
Webster, entomologist of the Ohio
Agricultural Experiment Station. The
Agricultural Department has received
many requests for information about
the chinch bug, and the bulletin is in
tended to meet this demand. It gives
many new facts concerning the life,
history and distribution of the species
and the whole subject of the practical
handling of It's diseases, in order to
assist In its destruction, is treated at
length. 1t says that few insects have
caused such pecuniary losses, ar d 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 hiber-
mates in the adult stage. 1t is of gre
garious hSbits and migrates in spring,
summer aud autumn. When and where
1t lays its eggs, the period of incuba-
ton, the different stages of develop
ment, the development and habits OF
its young, annual generations andfood
plants, are covered,by the bulletin. In
addition, it treats of the influence OF
precipitation and temperature on the
insect; its natural enemies, remedial
and preventive measures and describes
the true and false chinch bugs.
The bulletin says that it would APP
pear shat this pest first made its pres.
ence known in this country in North
Carolinasin 1888, and mentions several
serious outbreaks of the bug in the
West The estimated loss es from its
ravages from 1850 to 1887reach s267,-
100000. 1t also says that it is be-
lleved that the losses up to 1898
amounted TO fully $3.50, 900, 900. The
bulletin contains nineteen illustra-
tons, including maps, showing areas
infested by the chinch bug, and the
probable course of its diffusion over
North America.
The other bulletin is entitled simply
"The Hessian Fly in tue United
States" It was prepared under the
direction Of the departments entomo-
logist by Herbert Osborn, Professor of
Zoology and Entomology at the Agri-
cultural College of Ames. Iowa. and
contains many facts concerning the life
history, food habits and parasitic enc
mics of this farm pest. The bulletin
says that the Hessian fly probably
ranks next to the chinch bug as farm
pest in the United States, and that its
ravages in other countries have long
been known. IT received its name i'm
the belief that it had been introduced
into this country by the Hessian sol
diers during the war OF the Revolu-
ton
An account OF its original habitat.
its very wide distribution throughout
tine wheat growing regions Of Europe
and America, and its means Of distri-
button are given in the bulletin. with
descriptions Of the male and female in
sccts, the eggs, the larval forms and
development, food plants, natural enc
mics aud remedies. The bulletin also
contains list Of all the important
papers on the Hessian fly that have
appeared in America, and each of the
foreign works are of value TO the
American student. 10 is illustrated
with q frontspiece, two plates and
eight text figures. New York Sun
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