Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1889 — THE LITTLE GREEN BUGS. [ARTICLE]

THE LITTLE GREEN BUGS.

The farmers of many portions of Jasper county, like their neighbors in adjoining counties are considerably disturbed over the appearance of the grain louse. There are millions of them, but what the extent of the damage they will do, ea& not be Aold at present:- The entomologists say its amazing; abundance seems due to the droughts of recent years and of the early spring of this year* its enormous rate of multiplication enabling it to take a rapid advantage of circumstances favorable to its increase. The amount of injury, they say, depends largely upou the weather, and can not be predicted. This plant-louse attacks so suddenly and in such overwhelming numbers when it gets a fair start that nothing can be done but trust to the weather and its natural enemies.

The insect is suceptible to immense destruction by parasites, and seasonable rains check its mischief by their unfavorable influences on the louse, and by enabling grain to support the loss of sap on which it feeds. It damages only crop plants of the grass family, including wheat, barley, oats, rye, blue grass, foxtail and the like. It is an old world species, commonly known as “grain plant louse,” and has infested the grain of Europe for over one hundred years. It was found in Indiana in 1866, again in 1876 and 1878, since which time it has not been reported as specially injurious.