The Hop Bug. Plant Bug. Lygus umbellatarum. Lygus Solani.

Fig. VIII.

1 and 2, Potato bug, L. Solani; 3 and 4, pupæ; of do., nat. size and magnified; 5 and 6, L. umbellatarum, nat. size and magnified.

This insect gets its livelihood by extracting the juices of plants, into whose stem and leaves it thrusts its pointed beak or sucker. Many of them may be seen upon hop plants between June and September dodging quickly and craftily behind the leaves and bines to get out of sight. If the bines are examined it will be found that they are punctured in various places, from which punctures sap is issuing freely. This naturally weakens the plants and renders them unhealthy. In 1880, and in two previous years, considerable weakness was caused by the action of the hop bug in some of the Kent plantations. The Lygus umbellatarum is the principal offender, but specimens of Lygus Solani have also been seen upon hop plants, apparently feeding upon their juices, side by side with those of the other species. The former species is of a greenish colour, while the latter is more red and ochreous. Much damage is occasioned to various plants in America and Germany by plant bugs answering to the description of these English species, according to Harris, Lintner and Taschenberg.