50 The Bulletin. 



In reference to the destruction of remnants and hibernating places, 

 Mr. Hunter says : "Clean farming, by which is meant the killing 

 of all weeds by thorough cultivation, and the removal of all portions 

 of the crop from the land by burning or plowing under as soon as pos- 

 sible after the time of harvesting, is nearly as important in the case 

 of a sorghum or corn field that is to be put in cotton the following 

 season (provided there are cotton fields adjoining), as it will be 

 later in the cctton field itself." 



OTHER COTTON INSECTS OF LESSER IMPORTANCE. 



In the foregoing pages we have discussed those insects which are 

 really destructive cotton pests in this State. There are, however, a 

 large number of other insects which are to be found frequenting the 

 cotton plant, some more or less destructive, and others there for 

 pollen, nectar, or in search of other insects. We will here consider 

 briefly several of those that are most likely to attract the attention 

 of the observing farmer. 



Grasshopper's (Order Orthoptera) . — There are a number of differ- 

 ent species of grasshoppers which attack cotton, sometimes proving 

 quite destructive. Some of these appear full winged when the cotton 

 first gets well started in spring, while others appear first in the 

 young wingless state and acquire wings later. When serious, the 

 grasshoppers may be combated more or less successfully by the use of 

 poisoned baits as described for Cut- worms on page 13. 



Flea-beetles (Order Coleoptera). — There are many species of 

 Flea-beetles and they attack a great variety of plants. Cotton does 

 not usually suffer much injury from them, but in May, 1904, speci- 

 mens of the Pale-striped Flea-beetle (Systena blanda) were sent in 

 from Robeson County with the report that they were injuring cotton. 

 Whenever occurring in serious numbers they can likely be combated 

 by the poison dust method as discussed for Boll-worm on page 38. 



Lady-beetles (Order Coleoptera). — The yellow beetles, less than 

 one-half inch in length, with black spots, commonly found on cotton 

 that is infested with the Leaf-louse, are known as "Lady-beetles." 

 They have been discussed in connection with the Cotton Leaf-louse on 

 page 15. Their object on the cotton is to destroy the lice and they 

 are, therefore, distinctly beneficial to the cotton grower. 



Snails. — Although snails are not really insects, they may be 

 mentioned here. Certainly they are not usually a pest on cotton, yet 

 in June, 1907, specimens were sent in from Halifax County with the 

 report that they were present in great numbers on young cotton and 

 destroying the foliage. The species sent was possessed of a small 

 spiral shell, like some of the pond snails. Possibly the field was low 

 and had been overflowed from a pond, with result that stranded snails 

 were obliged to seek what food they could. 



