| OCR Text |
Show NORTH DAKOTA'S NEW BUG. Nobody Knows What Industry It Has ' Come to Destroy. . A strange insect has made its appearance appear-ance in North Dakota in large numbers and has been the source of much speculation specu-lation as to its character, habits and name. It has been seen for many weeks past in myriads in certain localities and is now met with, as it has made its presence felt for weeks past, in stores, offices, barber shops, hotels and on the trees and walks. Where it came from nnd where and when it will go are yet unanswered questions. Professor Wal-dron Wal-dron of the state experimental station at Fargo says it is closely allied to the chinch bug that has caused millions of dollars' worth of damage during certain cer-tain years in Minnesota and other states. He is of the opinion that these bugs camo from South America, where most of their allies live. The insects were first noticed in this portion of the state about the middle of August at Spiritwood lake. The bugs were seen in all stages of growth from the red coated young to the black winged adults hanging in clusters from the limbs and in large numbers on the trunks of the trees. The next instanoe known of their presence was on Sept 20, when thousands of the young were found in the timber at the junction of the Pipestone and James rivers in this city. Nearly a dozen patches of the young, varying four or five feet to 60 feet in diameter, were discovered. Th9 wingless larvae, crimson in color, were several deep and formed a writhing mass. A few fully developed bugs were noticed among the young. Thousands were seen on the brush, logs, trees and stones. The insects, while in the larval state, remained in this locality for about two weeks and suddenly disappeared. The adult bug is a little less than half an inch in length, is dull black in color, with small red markings, and has four wings. The first pair are leathery at the base and membraneous at the tips. Its mouth consists of a single sucking tube, so that its living is obtained ob-tained entirely by sucking. The young are similar to the adults, except: that they are red and are wingless. With the growth of wings black markings appear. Minneapolis Journal. |
