SALT-MARSH CATERPILLAR. ' 33 



leaf stems and the upper tender part of the main stem, often just helow a leaf, hut 

 rarely upon the base of the stem near the ground. The punctures upon leaf stems 

 are so close as to practically sever the stem; the leaf soon withers and dies and 

 drops. In gome cases the beetles seem to stay over the puncture after it is made 

 and suck up the sap which accumulates. In several cases we found a beetle upon 

 the shady side of a stem, remaining o'ver or close to several punctures, indicating 

 that a single individual may make several punctures and take the sap that accumu- 

 lates in all of them. Punctures in a case of this kind are not over one-sixteenth to 

 one-eighth of an inch apart, and from two to four are found in each group. We are 

 inclined to think that the punctures are made purposely for securing the sap and 

 not for devouring the tissue. Eight punctures were counted on a plant not over 2 

 inches high, and in this field were found an average of from 5 to as many as 16 

 beetles on and about each plant. In this 15-acre field fully 25 per cent of the cotton 

 stalks had been killed by the attacks of this beetle, and in some small areas as much 

 as half had been killed. 



During the day the weevils hide for the most part in the loose dirt about the jjlants 

 at a depth of from one-half an inch to 2 inches. They occurred also on neighboring 

 farms, l)ut in no other case in such injurious numbers. In all cases the owners of 

 infested fields reported that the first appearance of these insects in the cotton was in 

 those portions of the fields that had been in cowpeas the year previous. About 

 three weeks later — iNIay 27 — the injury became less, owing to the more rapid growth 

 of the plants, and ])erliaps also to the greater dissemination of the beetles. 



The use of arsenicals is not likely to result satisfactorily unless the treatment is 

 exceptionally thorough. If cotton is not planted after cowpeas the i)est will be dis- 

 posed of, but the latter crop is very necessary in the rotation plans of the Georgia 

 farmer. Where these beetles appear in the cotton fields in early spring we suggest 

 merely that chopping be as long delayed as possible or until the amount of damage 

 can be accurately forecasted. The injury will probably not result in more than a 

 severe thinning, and if care is exercised in chopping a good stand may be secured in 

 nearly all parts of the infested fields. In the laboratory adult beetles placed upon 

 young cotton plants readily left them and migrated to young cowpea plants near at 

 hand. A decided preference for cowpeas is indicated, and trap rows of cowpeas 

 through the cotton fields might be efficient. 



LEAF-EATING CATERPILLARS. 



SALT-MARSH CATERPILLAR. 



(Eiitigiiiene acnr'a Dm. Fig. 18.) 



This caterpillar is a common pest in cotton fields and often does 

 considerable damage locally. A ver}- satisfactory description of the 

 different stages of tlie insect has been given by Doctor Hinds'^' m his 

 account of an outbreak in cotton at Victoria, Tex. , so that the follow- 

 ing notes will merely furnish further data toward a more complete 

 knowledge of the life history". 



«1904: Bui. 44, Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agric, p. 80. 



