The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-14
GREEN LOUISE
IN OKLAHOMA
WHEAT FIELDS
Agricultural Department Takes
Action in Matter
OF HEMlPTfRA FAMILY
FaVOrite Dish of the Lice Is
Winter Wheat.

Guthrie. o. T.. April 12.-rhe reports
from over the territory that the wheat
heids had been infested BY a green plant
louise and that much damage was being
done has caused an investigation oy the
Oklahoma agricultural AID experimental
station Some OF the fields e. wheat
have been injured more than others. The
statement issued regarding the matter
says:
Reports from several parts OF central
Oklahoma show that grain plant louise
is doing much damage 70 wheat The
insect IS green IN color. with a large black
spot on each side Of the thorax and a row
OF similar spots on each side of The alb
domen. The antennae are faiy as long
as the body. The legs are pale greenish
IN color but with black tipped shanks
Males Of this species have never been
found and the young are produced alive
by the females without fertilization. afost
OF these viviparous individuals are wing
less but from time % time winged fe-
males are produced and by means o.
these the insect IS able 70 migrate in
search OF food supplies from one field %
another.
Winter wheat seems 20 be favorable
% the development of The species as 70
provides a means for them to winter over.
The complete life history Of the species
like that Of many other plant lice is not
well known. but IL Is wen known that IL
does winter over and that II appears
early in the spring and during the sum-
mer IS often to be found on volunteer
wheat and oats and other grasses. Like
al other plant lice this insect belongs 20
the great class Hemnintera which IN
CLUBS ali the true bugs. These al secure
their food not hy eating but by sucking
the juices OF the plant throush a Ions.
slender tube which they thrust into the
plant. In this way the tender wheat
plants are much injured and their growth
stunted.
no practical remedies can be applied
against this pest Of wheat cultivation
and the only hope is that one or moro
OF the parasitic insects that arc found
with this louise may greatly reduce its
numbers before IL has done much dam
age. One of these parasitic insects IS
now under observation BY the entomclo-
gist Of the experiment station and il IS
hoped IL may prove % be a friend
Wheat growers in an parts % the ter
ritory win greatly assist Fin the study OF
this insect II they viii az once convey
TO the experiment station AT Saltwater.
fun notes. regarding the date Of the FIRST
appearance OF the insect this spring its
occurrence upon oats or other grasses.
including indian corn. and other facts re-
garding its l;fe history that may come TO
their attention. AT the same time spell
mems should be sent 20 the station 81 tn
or wooden boxes for examination
Where fields Of wheat have been de-
stroyed by this insect. they may o. plant
ed with reasonable safety TO cowpeas. soy
beans or castor beans.
castor beans should be planted during
the latter half of April. the soil having
been prepared as for corn. Plant "a rows
from 10 81 feet apart with one seed
each. y 10 IL inches.
"Ccwpeas may be either broadcasted ar
ter discing or listed IN rows about two
feet apart with one seed each two 20
four inches. They are valuable chiefly
for pasture and hay.
"soy beans should b planted in drills
and cultivated much the same &c corn.
They are grown chiefly Tor the seed which
has a high feeding value. Yields vary
from 10 70 cd bushels Per acre.