The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-07-22
GREEN Bug ATTACKS
north DAKOTA GRAIN
AFTER AYR. RESPITE
Greatest MultipIier the World
Knows Would Do More Harm
IL in More Localities

Fargo, July 22.-After a respite OF
four years, the green bug is again on
the job ravaging fields Of wheat and
barley in widely scattered sections OF
the state, according to reports re-
ceived by j. A. Munro, Agricultural
college entomologist. No extensive
damage to crops Is anticipated, how
ever, as the pests are combining their
activities to limited localities.
The worst feature Of the green
!. bugs activities is that once a field
has become badly infested, there is
little that farmers IAN do to prevent
the damage. The green bug puts the
housefly, the usual example of ex-
IRENE prolificacy, to shame in the
matter of producing a large family
o short notice, MIR. Munro says.
1T has been figured out that I'M
der favorable conditions the offspring
of a single female green bug will, if
no fatalities occur, total In sextillions
something like 222, 759, 713, 1863 ,919 $685.
898,212 within the short span of six
months. This lack Of adherence to
birth control principles is the reason
why determination and the saving of
a field of grain once 1t Is attacked is
almost hopeless"
Ben H. Daggett, Ward county agent.
has reported infested fields in Ward
county, G. N. Ainslie, federal entomo-
logist, observed the bugs recently in
Morton county. and F. L. Nichols,
Kensal. has written to Mr.. Munro
concerning inroads the pests are max
ing into his fields in StutSman coun-
ty.
The green bug, or grain aphid as
it is sometimes called, can be found
in North Dakota every summer, but
extensive damage is done only when
climatic conditions are unfavorable
to the development Of other insects
which prey upon it. This year, in
certain localities, the green bug has
apparently developed with little hind
rance and, as a consequence, the grain
crops are suffering.
Signs of the work Of the green bug
are the willing of the plants, which
turn yellow, wither and die. The in
jury is due to the bugs sucking the
plant juices from the leaves, the
enormous numbers of the insects
which are present often making quick
work of a field.
Coupled with its extraordinary
power of multiplication, the green
bug is peculiar in another respect. It
exists through the winter in the form
OF a fertilized egg hidden in clumps
OF grass. grain stubble and other
crop refuse. In the srr:ag the 2
matches into z female which gives
pirth y other living females at the
r-cse of two per day throughout it's
reproductive period Of approximately
Is days.
The accumulative results Of such
wholesale reproduction is Immediately
evident and the rate at which the in
sects are born and the speed with
which they take over a field is as
founding. One week but a small area
of q field may be infested, in a few
days many acres are being destroyed.
I'm fact, its rapid reproductive ten
denotes are often the cause of the
green bugs own downfall" MI.
Munro declares. THE population in
creases SO rapidly that the bugs may
eat themselves out of feed and then
starve to DEATH
Males are reproduced in the green
bug family only in the fall, just prior
to the egg stage.
While no satisfactory method of
checking the green bug after it has
become abundant r known, careful
observation may disclose small areas
being attacked. These areas when
found early enough may be burned
over by scattering straw over them,
or they may be plowed under.
MI. Munro recommends that fields
which have been destroyed be plowed
under and summerfallowed.