153 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 1 



The attacks of the cotton caterpillar, Alabama argillacea Hiibn., the 

 cotton aphis, Aphis gossypii Glover, and the cotton square-borer, 

 Uranotes melinus Hiibn., have been generally variable, but seldom se- 

 vere. Late in the season the caterpillar is regarded as a friend of 

 the planter, as, by its destruction of the green, succulent growth of the 

 cotton plants, it destroys the food supply of the boll weevil, thus 

 lengthening the period during which the latter must survive without 

 food. 



The eowpea pod weevil, Chalcodermus aeneus Boh., is frequently 

 and generally reported from all parts of the state, being often mis- 

 taken for the boll weevil. Early in the spring, before the cowpeas are 

 up, these weevils assemble upon the young cotton and often do con- 

 siderable damage by puncturing the leaf and terminal stems, causing 

 their death. 



Three other cotton insects which are from time to time locally in- 

 jurious are the garden web-worm, Loxostege similalis Guen., the dif- 

 ferential locust, Melanoplus differentialis Thos. and a leaf-footed 

 plant-bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus Linn. 



Sugar Cane Insects 



The principal insect enemies of sugar cane are the cane borer, Dior 

 traea saccharalis Fab., which also attacks corn, and the mealy bug 

 known in Louisiana as the " poo-a-pouche, " lately identified by Mr. 

 J. G. Sanders as Pseudococcus calceolariae Mask. This insect is of 

 interest because it seems to be colonized by the Argentine ant, Irido- 

 myrmex hiimilis Mayr. So far as known, it is at present limited to 

 the territory extending from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico, the 

 infested area embracing about 1,500 square miles. The ant, however, 

 is well distributed over the southern part of the state, and the appear- 

 ance of the poo-a-pouche in other localities may be expected at any 

 time. 



Insects Injurious to Cereal and Forage Crops 



Corn is attacked principally by the bollworm and caneborer, al- 

 ready mentioned, and the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica 12- 

 punctata Oliv., the latter being particularly injurious on alluvial 

 lands. 



The principal rice insects are the rice weevil, Calandra oryzce Linn., 

 and the rice maggot, LissorJioptrus simplex Say. 



Outbreaks of the fall armyworm, Laphygma frugiperda Sm. & 

 Abb., have been occasionally reported in scattered localities. In July 

 of the present year, Mr. W. C. Harris of Alexandria, La., reported 



