The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-07-10
Distribution of ChinCh
Bug Fungus

BY p. ]. PARROT, ENToMoLoGIsT.
Insects have diseases peculiar to |
themselves just as other animals. One
of the most familiar forms is perhaps |
the white muscardine which is COM |
mon to chinch bugs, and under GER
tain favorable conditions may be ex-
tremely virulent, causing great losses
in the numbers of this pest. 1t is a
contagious disease, and its appear
ance in an insect is due to the pres
ence of a microscopical parasitical
plant which is popularity known as
the chinch bug fungus.
This fungus thrives as naturally
upon this insect as other plants do
upon the soil. 1t develops from spores
which may be considered as minute
seeds. If conditions are suitable for
growth, the spores sown upon the
sides of the insect by the wind give
rise to little rootlets which penetrate
it's exterior coverings and tissues
within to obtain nourishment for the
growing plant. This drain upon the
Insects vitality is often sufficient to
cause it's death. After the death of
the insect the fungus continues to
grow, sending delicate brar ches
through the outer covering, which
often env elope the body with white
mold. In time this takes on a grey
ish appearance, caused by tiny black
| balls which form on the ends of
branches. These balls contain spores
which upon liberation from the spore
case are distributed by the wind.
The fungus makes its best develop
ment during seasons when there are
plenty of chinch bugs and an abund-
ance of rain. The purpose in distri-
buting the fungus in the fields is to
take advantage of favorable condi-
tions to secure more rapid distribu-
tion of the disease than would occur
normally. No immediate benefit will
be derived by distributing the fungus
during dry weather, but as it retains
its vitality for number of months it
may start an epidemic of the disease
long after its distribution upon the
Iapproach of suitable weather.
For several years the Ohio Exper-
iment Station at Wooster has been
sending out small free samples of this
fungus to farmers of the State in the
hope of aiding them by starting an
outbreak of disease among the chinch
/ H., ~. &c ~rnno
The fungus the Experiment Station
is sending out this year has been
lgrown in a mixture of corn meal and
beef broth, instead of upon insects,
as it is a cheaper and simpler method
of cultivating and distributing 1t to
the farmers of the state. But owing
to the great number of requests for
material the quantity sent to each
individual is very small, and should
be used to its greatest advantage.
To do this collect a number of bugs
and confine them together with a
small portion of fungous material.
finely divided, in a tight, wooden,
box, containing thin layer of earth
in the bottom. Supply the imprison-
ed bugs with fresh corn stalks as
often as necessary and keep the con-
tents of the box moist by sprinkling
water them. AS bugs show evidence
of disease distribute part of them
over the fields, and supply their places
with fresh bugs. Keep up this opera
tion till a goodly number of flung oi s
covered bugs are distributed in the
worst infested areas. If by chance
the boxes become foul, they should
be carefully cleaned and thoroughly
aired.
A simpler method of spreading the
disease is to crumble up the material
finely and distribute it where the
bugs are most numerous, preferably
in damp places, such as under grass
and fallen corn stalks.
1t would be a saving of time and
expense If farmers would preserve a
few of the fungous covered bugs with
which to start infection boxes the
following spring. If the fungus seem
to be failure, write Immediately for
a fresh supply.