Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-02-19
KILL CH|NCH BUGS
They Are Best Destroyed During
Winter Months.
A.oordlno to Department Of Aerleuh
ture Pest Has Caused Loss consid-
erabIy In Excess Of ss5o'ooo'-
600 to American Farmers.

600 to Amertrdn FARMERS.
+ woshington.-Th chinch bug, which
in go Years has probably caused loss
considerably in excess of SS50,0OO,OOO
70 American farmers, is more effective
Iv DESTROYED during the winter months
Than later when 1t has left its winter
quarters. according to the department
Of agriculture. The burning of dry
grass. leaves and rubbish along the
margin Of woods and fields is the best
method of destroying the pest at this
season of the year.
The pest, which is distributed gen.
orally throughout the United States
except in the extreme west, has caused
particular damage to the staple grains
throughout the middle west. The
greatest losses from the insect are
suffered in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ken
| lucky, North Carolina, Missouri Iowa,
| Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebras-
| ka, Oklahoma and Texas. The fact
that this bug causes such widespread
depredations makes this warning for
its destruction during the winter of
/ very general importance.
The chinch bug when full grown is
only about one-fifth of an inch in
length and may be less. 1t may be de-
scribed as black with numerous hairs,
also black. The underwings are white.
There are two forms of the fully de-
veloped insect, one with long wings
and the other with shorter wings. The
short wing form differs very much In
its habits from the long wing form, the
first passing the winter in the mea-
dows, which II usually attacks in pref
erence to grain crops. The other kind
may be observed flying about during
Indian summer In search Of winter
quarters. The short wing insects are
not able to fly and therefore cannot
make such extensive migrations to
and from winter quarters. The chinch
bug with the short wings is found in
abundance only in the east. The more
dangerous long wing variety ranges
over most of the country between the
Rockies and the Appalachians.
Pasturing sometimes aids in the de-
struction of the chinch bug. This 10
particularly effective to the northward
in the middle west when the grass Is
green and matted or occurs along
hedge rows and rail fences so that 1t
cannot be burned. Leaving the ground
bare of vegetation permits the bugs to
be exposed to the winter weather, and
this kills them. It is sometimes pos
sible to clear out hedge rows and along
I %
side where 1t can be burned later.
These measures should be carried
out some time between now and
spring (the earlier the better) before
the chinch bugs leave their winter
quarters and take themselves to the
fields. In the southern part of the mid
die west the burning is not very eff
fective If done after February 1 and
is very effective If done in November
or December. Along with these pre-
ventive measures, all grass growing on
waste lands should be burned and es-
pecially clumps of broom sedge in pas
lures and similar localities.
1t is most advisable to get rid of the
chinch bugs before they enter the
/
they have reached the wheat they are
not readily accessible. Most of the
bugs spend the winter in the thick
punches of clump-forming grass in
waste places, pastures and meadows,
along roadsides and railroad rights of
way. During late fall and early win
ter great numbers Of living bugs can
| ha In hnu he nil -
corn, etc. In the spring. however, very
few living bugs but many dead ones
may be found In such situations. This
seems TO show that the current belief
that most Of the bugs pass the winter
beneath such refuse has no founda-
ton in fact.
1t is very important when grass is
burned that 1t be dry and yet burn
slowly so that the heat will penetrate
, the densest portions and reach the
bugs. The bugs need not come in d.
rect contact with the fire. This burning
In early fall and late spring is not as
effective as when done during the win
ter, for green and vet stems In the
former seasons furnish protection to
certain of the bugs. Even the most
careful burning will not reach the
bugs under this condition.
An important item in the destruc-
ton of these pests is the cooperation
/, OF all the farmers in a neighborhood.
1t is really an easy matter to fight
this pest If whole neighborhood I'M
, dertakes 1t.
The secretary of agriculture recent
ly issued two orders relating to the ad-