MEXICAN CONCHUELA IN WESTERN TEXAS IN 1905. 3 



iiijiirv whicli u^^ually first hccomcs ai)i)ari'iit upon the opening of 

 the bolls. The most notable losses in 1004, which with little doubt 

 were clue to the oonchuela, were on the farms of Mr. C. E. Pierce 

 and Miller Brothers. The former had 1-20 acres of alfalfa which 

 Avas cut for the seed crop about the middle of July, from 150 to 200 

 pounds of seed i)er acre being expected. It was noticed that this 

 insect Avas very abundant in the field, but the extent of the damage 

 Avas fully realized only Avhen an aA'erage of 83;'{ pounds of seed per 

 acre AA'as obtained. At the preA'ailing A^alue of 12 cents per pound 

 the estimated loss AA'as from $8 to $14 per acre, or from $9(\0 to 

 $1.G80 for the entire field. The 10 acres of alfalfa belonging to 

 Miller Brothers should have produced at least 150 pounds of seed 

 per acre, according to general estimates, Ijut so much of the seed 

 was ruined, su^jposedly by the conchuela, that the yield was reduced 

 to ()0 pounds per acre. The aAcrage loss per acre was estimated 

 as at least $10. Other losses of this kind occurred in Ward County 

 during 1904, but the information obtainable concerning them is less 

 definite. According to one report, alfalfa groAvers at Iavo other 

 points in the Pecos EiA'er Valley — Grand Falls and To3'ah Creek — 

 experienced a failure Avith a seed crop of alfalfa in that year Avhich 

 they attributed to "" Aveevil." a term commonly applied to the cause of 

 such losses cA^en before an insect has been located upon Avhich to place 

 the responsibility. In this case the writer believes that at least the 

 greater part of the losses in question can be safely considered as due 

 to the Avork of Pentatoma ligata^ together Avith the grain bug, 

 P. sayi. 



CROPS DAMAGED IN 1905. 



ALFALFA. 



Direct observations, both in western Texas and northern ^lexico, 

 showed that fields devoted to alfalfa are capable of harboring the 

 conchuela in enormous numb(>rs. In the Laguna district in Mexico 

 alfalfa has been groAvn for several years, but only for hay and forage, 

 and in comparatiA'ely small quantities on the cotton plantations. As 

 far as could l)e learned, previous to 1005 the pest here considei-ed 

 neA'er attracted attention on account of its occurrence in the alfalfa 

 fields, but in that year it became so abundant that at Tlahualilo, 

 State of Durango, upon the cutting of a crop, adjacent cotton fields 

 and a small vineyard Avere overrun by myriads of the insects, Avhile 

 seA^eral miles distant at another plantation it was first brought to the 

 notice of the nuuiagers by ai)i)earing in large numbers in the trt)ughs 

 in Avhich green alfalfa Avas fed to stock. In these cases, no seed 

 crop being groAvn. the attack Avas limited to the leaA'es and stems. 

 The effect of the extensive feeding on these parts can not be definitely 



