16 MISCELLANEOUS COTTON INSECTS. 



second from the middle of Septem))er through October. The winter is 

 undoubtedly passed in the pupal stage, as has been observed farther 

 north. Although so common, no thorough study of tliellfe history of 

 the species seems to be recorded in entomological literature. 



J^ood plants. — A long list of food plants has been attributed to this 

 species. Of these, purslane and chickweed are undou})tedly the favor- 

 ites. Chittenden" states that they feed on sugar beets, tomatoes, and 

 apple and prune trees. Dr. Herman Behr'^ states that the species is 

 nowhere as common as on the Pacitic slope, and that in California the 

 larvfe prefer plants of the family Ouagracea?, including Epilobium, 

 Boisduvalia, Clarkia, Eucharidium, Godetia, CEnothera, and the intro- 

 duced Fuchsia. He says also that there the insect rarely suffers from 

 parasites, and that it easily adapts itself to other food plants, such as 

 Rumex and Portulaca, but is not common on grape. Walsh and Riley 

 give as food plants purslane, turnip, l)uck\vheat, watermelons, and 

 apple, '' and state that the species is conmionl}' attacked by tachina 

 flies, ^' Saunders '' mentions the larva as occurring also on plantain. 

 There is no previous mention of the species as a cotton pest, though 

 planters state that they have frequently noticed the larva?. It is com- 

 monly found on gi'apevines and may be considered as feeding on 

 almost all low-growing vegetation. 



Of the methods of control, the most important is that of preventing 

 the growth of the weeds upon which the larvae normally feed. Only 

 where these have been al)undant does the species become injurious. 

 When serious injury is threatened, the caterpillars may be readily 

 controlled by dusting or spraying with arsenicals. To destroy the 

 pupa?, land grown up in weeds on which the caterpillars were known 

 to have been feeding in the fall should be plowed and harrowed 

 thoroughly in winter. 



MAY BEETLES. 



LACHNOSTERNA CRIBKOSA LeC. (Fig. 6.) 



Injury by this species to cotton was first reported by Mr. J. H. 

 Burton, of Valleyview, Cooke County, about the middle of March, 

 1904. On March 25 the work of the beetles on Mr. Burton's plan- 

 tation was observed by the writer. The beetles, which are about 

 an inch long and shining black in color, remain in the soil during the 

 day, emerging about an hour before sundown, or on a cloudy day at 

 about 4: p. m. They feed for an hour or two and then reenter the soil. 



« 1903: Bui. 43, n. s., Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agric, p. 41. 



^ 1882: Papilio, Vol. II, p. 2. " 



'•1869: Am. Entomologist, Vol. I, ]\ 206. 



''1870: 1. c, Vol. II, p. 257. 



«1877: Can. Ent., Vol. IX, p. 66. 



