RED SPIDER ON COTTON. 3 
- tax of $325,920. The cotton seed lost, at ordinary prices amounting 
to $67,900, brought the total levy on the South Carolina planters to 
about $393,820. In view of the fact that North Carolina, Georgia, 
Alabama, and Mississippi suffer similarly and are each considerably 
larger than South Carolina, it is estimated that during a severe red- 
spider year the 
southeast may suf- 
fer a loss of $2,- 
000,000 from the 
ravages of this 
pest. 
DESCRIPTION OF 
THE RED SPIDER. 
Both male and 
female red spiders 
are present on the 
plants. The color 
of the females is 
subject to consid- 
erable variation, 
At times it is rusty 
ereen, sometimes 
greenish amber, 
occasionally yel- 
lowish, at times 
almost black, but. 
most often brick 
red, and a large 
S pot of mu ch Fic. 2.—An uninfested cotton plant, growing in same field 
= ere em ae shown in figure 5, but just beyond the boundary of infes- 
d oh ker color aS tation by the red spider. (Author’s illustration.) 
usually seen along 
the back half of each side of the body. The males are considerably 
smaller than the females, more pointed behind, of a rusty salmon 
color, and the spots at the sides are not conspicuous. The red spider 
is in reality not a spider but a mite, and is more nearly related to the 
ticks than to the true spiders. As is usnal with mites, both the male 
and the female have eight legs, but no wings. The females are less 
than one-fiftieth of an inch in length. 
LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 
The red spiders which pass through the winter are chiefly the 
mature females. Males, however, may also be seen at times during 
this season, and, indeed, during periods of mild weather eggs are 
laid and considerable development may take place. Upon several 
