Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-02-20
KILL CH|NCH BUGS.
They Are Best Destroyed During
Winter Months.

vsu'sSs Ns~sss''SD- .$.25 ,gil44 +
According to Department Of Asrleul':
turs Pest Has Caused Loss consid-
erably in Excess Of $3.50, 600. 7.
GOO to American Farmers.
washington The chinch bug. which
in 60 years has probably caused loss
considerably In excess OF $350,ooo,ooo
to American farmers, is more effective
ly 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 pest
method of destroying the pest at TINS
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 grams
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 tact
that this bug causes such widespread
depredations makes this warning Tor
its destruction during the winter OF
very general importance. <
The chinch bug when full grown 10
only about one-f1fth OF an inch IN
length and may be less. 1t may be de-
scribed as black with numerous nairs'
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, tne
first passing the winter In the mea'
dows, which it usually attacks In pref
erence to grain crops. The other klno
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 Is
particularly ehechve'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. 1t is sometimes pos
sible TO clear out hedge rows and along
rail fences, piling the refuse to one
eide where it can be burned later.
These measures should be carried
out some time between now and
spring 1.-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 10 not very ef-
fective If done after February ! and
is very effective IL done in November
or December. Along with these pre-
venuve 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
young wheat in the early spring. Once
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
tar great numbers of living bugs can
be found in corn husks, piles OF kaf1r.
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 it 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 10 not as
effective az when done during the win
ter, for green and wet 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 neighborhood.
1t Is really an easy matter to fight
this pest II whole neighborhood IN
dertakes It. - ~
The secretary of agriculture recent
" issued two orders relating to the ad-
mission Of foreign
quarantine potatoes into the
Is Extended. United States.
- -, One OF these
orde provides for the admission Of
disease-free potatoes from unaffected
foreign districts under proper regula-
ton and inspection. ID
The other order, to protect Ameri-
can potatoes from the powdery scab
and other diseases. temporarily ex-
tends the quarantine effective since
September 20, 1912, against the impor-
tafion OF potatoes from Newfoundland,
the islands OF st. Pierre and Miquelon.
0reat Britain, including England, Scot
land. Wales and Ireland; Germany,