Notes on the Green Bug in Texas. 279 



small groups of larvae consequent to the hatching of the eggs 

 would reasonably be expected to afford an important advan- 

 tage to the young under natural surroundings by preventing 

 an extreme preponderance of them on one plant or part of a 

 plant, where if all issued in a mass they would be confronted 

 Vv^ith a proportionate competive risk of finding live prey not 

 • only ready at hand but also in sufficient quantity. Inevitable 

 as the risk must be in any case, yet the larvae, which at first 

 are almost helpless creatures, have an opportunity to prepare 

 for the critical occasion of obtaining prey, though only in a 

 feeble way at the best, but which is still highly essential for 

 their welfare. 



In support of this conclusion, the conduct of those in con- 

 finement has furnished evidence to denote that live prey is not 

 immediately demanded, because the newly hatched larvse first 

 pai-took of their egg shells and made no effort to seek further 

 food for at least a day afterward. Obviously their future 

 career depends at this juncture upon finding a fresh food 

 supply within convenient reach, and not to exceed, at the most, 

 any short distance to which the tender young larvae may be 

 able to wander. 



Even in instances concerning those under observation, the 

 larvae failed to sustain themselves, although they were inclosed 

 in a small jar with an abundance of live green bugs on fresh 

 blades of grain which lay on the botton within a few inches, or at 

 the most not farther than four inches, of the larval birthplace ; 

 and besides, the green bugs frequently crawled close around 

 the spot where the larvae rested. As to the death of these larvae, 

 no definite cause could be ascribed otherwise than to star- 

 vation as a result of natural weakness that incapacitated them 

 from obtaining live food, although as a possible factor 

 in imposing a devitalized state, consideration was given to 

 artificial breeding conditions. But in view of the fact that 

 other larvae succeeded vigorously, the effect of confinement 

 could not have been of material consequence ; and furthermore, 

 the usual outcome would discredit any question of objection to 

 the kind of prey. Of all reasons considered, the intensely hot 

 weather at the time of these failures might have exerted the 

 real detrimental influence. 



The probable importance of distribution, first in small 

 groups and later by scattering of individuals, is a point to be 



