THE SNOWY TRP:E CRICKET. 



37 



THE lO MOTH. 



( Antoiiinv.s io Fab. ) 



Larvje of the io moth were found working- on cotton at Paris, Tex., 

 in Aug'ust, 1904. Septenil>er S, about a dozen were found on a single 

 stalk of cotton at Cooper, Tex.; one of them had pupated ])y October 

 1. This is a not uncommon species on cotton, but the injury is only 

 local. 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE STALKS. 



THE SNOWY TREE CRICKET. 



( (EcttnthiiK nireus DeG. Fig. 20. ) 



This insect is of little economic importance in the cotton field, beinof 

 beneficial, if anything: l)ut the fact that the eggs found in the stalks 

 in winter have been generally mistaken for those of the boll weevil 

 by persons unacquainted with the habits of the latter insect makes 

 it of interest. The 

 eggs are laid in the 

 fall in the stalks of 

 cotton and various 

 large weeds. The}' 

 are arranged in a 

 1 o n g 1 1 ud i nal row. 

 and form a scar with 



. Fig. iO.—'l^raiithHS nirciii-: adult— three times natural size (original) . 



numerous punctures. 



like the scars upon raspberry canes and fruit trees (lig. 21). These 

 eggs hatch in early spring and the young feed upon plant lice. The 

 habits of the nymphs have been well described by Prof. C. O. Hough- 

 ton," and our observations confirm his statements regarding the food 

 habits, except that we have observed the adults to feed somewhat 

 upon the tender portions of the foliage. The young become full 

 grown by the middle or latter part of June in Texas, whereas in 

 Delaware they did not mature until Jul}- 2.5. In the North there is 

 but one generation a year, but there seems to be good evidence that 

 two generations occur in Texas. 



Two females were placed in a cage June 12, 1904, at which time the 

 adults were common. A week later it was observed that the leaf 

 petiole had been eaten until almost severed and the lobes of the leaves 

 had also been attacked for food. July 1 it was found that the under- 

 side of the petiole toward the leaf was the favorite feeding point. 

 July 8 eggs were found deposited in a leaf petiole, sometimes the egg- 

 puncture extending through it. The eggs are about 1 bj' 4 mm. 



" 1904: Entomological News, Vol. XV, pp. 57-61. 



