Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-02-20
KILL CH|NCH BUGS
They Are Best Destroyed During
Winter Months.
According to Department of Agricul
ture Pest Has Caused Loss Consid-
erabIy In Excess of $35o,ooo,-
900 to American Farmers.

to American farmers, is more effective
ly destroyed during the winter months
than later when it has left it's 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 gem
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 or
very general Importance.
The chinch bug when full grown Is
only about one-ffth, 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
it's habits from the long wing form, the
| first passing the winter in the mea-
| dows, which it 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
stfuction of the chinch bug. This is
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. 1t is sometimes pos
I sible to clear out hedge rows and along
rail fences, piling the refuse to one
side where it can be burned later.
These measures should be carried
hot ond
| 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 l 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
| 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.
! ter great numbers of living bugs can
| be found in corn husks. piles of kafr
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 di
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 wet stems I'm 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 IL whole neighborhood un-
| dertakes IL.