48 



MISCP:LLANEOrs COTTON INSECTS. 



a specimen he had that day found hi the woods and stated that in ll:t02 

 this insect had ruined his cotton crop. As many as three of the hugs 

 were found on one boll, and l)y shaking the stalks as many as five 

 bolls would sometimes drop, presumabl}- as a result of their injury. 

 The statement that the injury was done by this insect may be (jues- 

 tioned, but its identity could hardly l)e confused; and, judging from 

 later observations, if it occurred in the immbers stated, the injury 

 would undou])tedly be serious. 



In Septem])er and October, lOd-t. Mr. Lewis frequently found these 

 bugs puncturing bolls at Terrell, causing black spots and injuring the 

 lint. September 1 a mass of fifty eggs was taken at Wolfe City, and 

 several masses were previously taken at Terrell. These eggs hatched 

 September 2, the young nj-mphs being almost l)lack. The n\'mphs 

 molted September 5, 19, 26, and October 1, the wing-pads appearing- 

 on the latter date. The last molt occurred on October 11. 



The adult bugs hibernate over winter, as is shown by the fact that 

 specimens have been taken at Wellborn, Tex., March 7, 19(»3. and at 

 Manor, Tex., March 29, 1901. 



The insect has been known as a resident of cotton fields before, hut 

 its exact status has never been determined. In the Fourth Report of 

 the United States Entomological Commission, page 79, it was reported 



as feeding upon the 

 cotton caterpillar. 

 Riley and Howard 

 record injury by it 

 to cotton and also 

 to garden plants at 

 Tallahassee, Fla., 

 November 11, 1.S!I0.« 

 Nymphs were also 

 recorded b}" them as 

 seriously injuring- 

 beans in Statl'ord 

 County, Va. , Sep- 

 tember 30, 1889.'' 

 The records of the Bureau of Entomology show the insect to be 

 undoubtedly an enemy of the orange tree and to have a wide range of 

 food plants, March 19, 1883, eggs, nymphs, and adults were received 

 from Mr. T. Franklin, West Apopka, Fla., who stated that they were 

 injuring orange trees. More eggs and nymphs were received April 7. 

 October 3, 1898, specimens were received from W. L. Thomas, Val- 

 dosta, Ga., who reported great numbers injuring leaves and fruit in 



«1891: Insect Life, Vol. Ill, p. 403. 

 b 1889: Insect Life, Vol. II, p. 148. 



Pig. 29. — Nezara hilaris: a, mature bug; b. beak of same; c, egg mass; 

 d, single egg; e, young nymph; /, last stage of nymph — all enlarged; 

 b, d, more enlarged (from Chittenden). 



