Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-08-24
Rour.Lined PLANT Bus.


For the past two summers an espe
cially large number of cases OF injury
due to the Four-lined Plant Bug hav,
been sent to the Maine Agricultural Ex
pertinent Station.
As often happens with insect attacks
the injury IL not always recognized al
insect trouble ss the drying leaves art
likely not to be noticed until the periot
OF feeding is past. In this event tht
withered tips are often mistaken for thu
result Of some disease and the specimen
sent to q plant pathologlst instead of te
an ent0mologist.
In the early stages of injury, soon af
ter the leaf has been attacked, the leaf IL
dotted with little brown roundish spots
These are the places In the leaf where
the tissue has been punctured and the
sap drawn out. As these brownish discs
are somewhat regular In outline, and as
both the upper and lower surface Of the
leaf appear to be whole, 1t Is not strange
that the real oulprit Is not suspected and
the damage charged up against some
fungus.
The cause of this type of trouble,
which in its later stages becomes dried
and crumpled bit of vegetation involving
single leaf or all those at the tip OF q
branch, is the four lined plant bug. Like
its relative, the tarnished plant bug, 1t
feeds by means of sharp beak which it
inserts into the tissue of the plant. OK.
tracing the juices. The drained areas
turn brown and the characteristic spot.
ting Of the foliage is thus accomplished.
These insects attack wide range of
plants including many weeds, garden
vegetables and Towering plants. They
are greenish yellow bugs $40 inch long
with two black dots on the thorax and
four black lines down the back.
They Icy their eggs on terminal shoots
of currsnt and other bushes In the fall.
The young which hatch from these eggs
In the spring are red at first with black
spots, but become bright yellow With
black wing pads as they grow older. It
takes them about twenty days to become
mature and the adults are abundant BY
June and July.
As they are particularly fond of mint
and sage, these plants can sometimes be
used as traps to lure them away from
other vegetation which has less fascina-
ton for them. The bugs can be Jared
from the plants into Q pail of water Gov
cred by film OF oil. This is sometimes
practical In small garden, where hand
methods can be resorted to. Best re-
suits are obtained when this is done In
the cool of the morning before the bugs
"thaw out".
The young (before they obtain wings)
may be killed by thorough application
of kerosene emulsion. Nicotine sulphate
and other tobacco extracts are also ef-
fective.
The egg clusters which the bugs insert
in the stems OF currants and other bushes
can be found half protruding from the
twigs. Much can be accomplished by
trimming these out in the fall and burn
ing them.
At this time of high costs of produc.
tion 1t is particularly important that the
farmer and gardener, not the insect
should gather the crops. ~,
With this In view, the Maine Agricul-
tural Experiment Station will gladly CO.
operate by naming insects and by giving
advice concerning combative measures.
Insects sent for this purpose should be
placed with food Qeaves of the plant
upon which they are feeding) In stout
box (tin preferably with the sender's
name and address on the package. A
letter should also be sent giving q note
concerning the numbers present and the
food plants attacked.
CHAs. D. WOODS, Director.