The Bulletin. 



27 



Halifax and Warren on the north, southward through Wayne and 

 Johnston, and passing beyond our borders in the counties of Robeson 

 and Scotland on the south. Nevertheless it has been twice reported 

 from as far west as Cabarrus County, and what is presumably the 

 same was sent on corn from Brunswick County. That it is not con- 

 fined to cotton alone is made plain by the following, which shows 

 it to be destructive to corn and peas as well, and these, with cotton, 

 are the three main staple crops in the cotton counties : 



Fremont. N. C, July 25, 1902. 



I send to-day two stalks of cotton, one of corn, and one bill of peas. You 

 will observe that there is an insect on it which is spreading rapidly. The cot- 

 ton, destitute of leaves, shows the way in which it is left. I notice they are 

 spreading faster on the corn than on the cotton. 



Yours, etc., J. A. Davis. 



An examination of the samples sent by Mr. Davis showed all three 

 of these kinds of plants to be swarming with this Red Spider in all 

 stages of development, the leaves in each case showing the reddish 

 or yellowish color due to their injurious attacks. Many other letters 

 could be quoted showing it to be destructive, but most of our cotton 

 farmers are already aware of its nature. 



Fig. 8. — Cotton Red Spider, or Rust-mite. Adult mite, very much enlarged. 

 (After Titus, Bur. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



Life-history and Habits. — How the Red Spider passes the winter 

 is not known, but it seems likely that it may pass this season on 

 hardy weeds. At any rate, during the summer, they are found in all 

 stages of development on the cotton leaves. The young mites are of 

 the same general appearance as the adults, but are smaller and gener- 

 ally paler in color. The eggs are round and are of a pearly color 

 at first, but turn darker as the time for hatching approaches. The 

 eggs hatch in a few days in hot weather. 



The Red Spider usually first appears in restricted areas, in one 

 corner, or along one edge of the field, or in spots here and there 

 through the field. They spread gradually until by the latter part of 

 summer, they may be all over the field, causing leaves and bolls to 



