H-OW INSECTS AFFECT THE COTTOX 



PLANT. 



25 



for tlipy attack in numbers insects mueli larger than themselves. 

 Sev<'ral s|)ecies of ants' are veiy efhcient enemies of the holl weevil! 





Fig. 32.— Moth stalk-borer: a, Female moth; h, lialf-grown lafva, or borer; c, lull-grown larva in injured 

 stalk; d, side view of segment of abdomen of same; e, pupa. All somewhat enlarged. (Chittenden.) 



They eat their way into fallen infested squares and devour the weevil 



larvge, pupae, and adults. In this way they often add 10 to 20 per 



cent to the natural control of the weevil. But these same ants are 



fond of sweets and they foster 



the honeydew-secreting aphids, 



white flies, and scales, which are 



found on cotton,^ transplanting 



them to new colonies. They are 



diligent in protecting the aphids, 



or "lice," from voracious ene- / 



mies and in this way become 



enemies of the cotton planter. 



On the whole, how^ever, it is 



believed that the smaller ants 



do at least as much good as 



harm and should be let alone. 



THE PARASITES. 



Fig. 33.— a "sharpshooter," Oncometopia undata: 

 Adult at left, nymph, or young, at right. C.reatly 

 enlarged . ( Sanderson . ) 



Practically all of the pests meii- 

 tioned on other pages are held 

 more or less in control by other insects which prey on them or live at their 



Especially species of Solenopsis, Pheidole, Monomoriuni, ami Iridomyrmex. 



