The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-03-10
HUNGRY APPETITE
FOR GROWING CROPS
But Also Come Miss Lady
Bug and Friends Who
DOte on Green Bugs

ne lViiOWiuS htditlieuA hdb utth
Is, ued by tho Oklahoma state board OF
agriculture concerning the reported
appearance OF tho "reen bug
Tho appearance OF the green bug
was reported TO this Office from Ponca
city, In the southern portion OF Kay
county. ON the 2Sth OF February, In a
letter compsnied by specimens taken
from wheat fields IN that vicinity. II
waa determined that these insects
wpre identical with those so preya.
lent IN the state last spring
Or he 18th Of March q representative
OF this office, accompanied by q spe.
cial agent of the United states dc
rartment OF agriculture visited Ponca
City and made q personal examination
of wheat fields In that vicinity Both
these gentlemen had practical obserya-
ton Of the work of the green bug in
Oklahoma last year. and have made
some study OF their life history and
characteristics
The bugs were found In considerable
numbers IN the fields of older wheat.
lr some fields Of later planting none
could be found. While in others, only
few specimens appeared In those
fields whore the insects wcru most
nnmerous all ages were present A
number of blades OF grain were found
containing an adult bug with family
Of six to eight young ones, evidently
Just born In other cases the adult
was irst leaving her young family A
considerable percentage OK the winged
fcrma we've also seen,
No appreclable damage to the grain
was yet apparent. Some outer tips Of
blades were tinged with brown, which,
may have been cansed by the extrac-
tion OF tho juices by the bug or Il may
have been due to the bite OF frost.
None Of the brown spots so readily
seen in fields heavily infested last
spring could be seen. and It was evi
dent that in no place had the insect
become numerous enough to take SAT-
fIcient juice to cause the death of the
plant
In Kay county last year damage
Oh 20 per cent was reported on wheat
acreage OF $4,000 and damage OF
3g 8 per cent TO 10000 acres OF oats.
la Round Grove township the one re.
Gently visited by Representatives OF
this office. an per cent damage was
reported last year to 5.766 acres OF
wheat and 20 per cent damage 70 1892
acres OF oats Practically all this dam.
eye was accomplished after the 18th
O March BY hugs now have evidently
/ hlhernated over winter. as Mr.. G. r.
Hall who. accompanied the represen,
tatiyes OF this office reports that his
first observation Of them was In De.
! cember last. There has been de.
I crease IN wheat acreage I'm that town.
ship OF perhaps 20 per cent from last
! year Oats are just now being sown.
A comparison OF weather conditions
with those OF a year ago shows a very
practical difference In precipitation IN
favor of the present season, the rain
iall and moisture from snow being
| much in excess OF last winter. This
should have brought about a much
healthier condition of wheat this sea.
son than last at the corresponding
aate.
A considerable number OF parasites
81 the green bugs We're found In the
fields where the bugs were most
numerous. such as the lady bug, syr.
| phid fls. and chrysopid These para
sites are very industriously attacking
the green bug, and their presence at
this early date was nosiceable
u h too early 20 make any predic.
tior of probable damage. Much de.
pcnda on weather conditions, progress
Of the growth Of the grain. and the de-
velopment OF the natural enemies Of
tho insect
This Office can recommend no rem
eay which may be applied by the farm,
en- for the destruction of the bug al
this stage. II wheat land has been
well prepared aud seeded early the
best Of the battle has been fought and
the result remains for natural condi
tions 10 determine II Is well to re.
member that the insect feeds on the
/ juices Of the grain, and the greatest
/ aud most apparent damage comes 10
that which IS tenderest and less Wig
orous The grain should not be pas
! turcd
This office would be glad to have re-
! ports from an portions OF the state as
IA whether there arc any bugs pres
ont describing general Vonditinns. sex
tent 0f damage. II any. and keeping us
iLiofmei as 10 developments from
tine IL time