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black, and containing two distinct x-shaped whitish-yellow lines on them, intersect 
ing each other near the centre; the wing cases are also edged with a distinct yellowish 
line as farasthex. The body is flattened, and in the female projects on each side 
beyond the wing-cases, showing the bright red of the abdomen, and contrasting 
with the dark color of the wing-cases. The under wings are hidden under the 
upper wing-cages, and are transparent, veined, and of a yellowish color, clouded 
with black. The thighs of the fore legs are somewhat spiny near the tibia, 
and of a red color. The tibize and tarsi are black; the under part of the body 
is bright red, with rings of yellowish-white running round it on the edge of 
each segment. 
The female produces about one hundred eggs; the young larva is completely 
red, almost scarlet, with distinct whitish-yellow bands around the body, on the 
edge of each segment. The thighs are red, with the tibise, tarsi, and antenne 
blackish. 
The pupa differs only in size, and in having the unformed wing-cases very 
small and black, contrasting strongly with the vivid red of the body: 
The perfect male is about three-fifths of an inch in Tength, and the female 
about seven-tenths of an inch, from the head to the end of the abdomen. ‘They 
are similar in shape and color, differing only in size. The head and eyes are 
red, the antenne black, with four long joints. 
The following communication on the subject of this insect was received from 
Mr. B. Hopkins, of Jacksonville, a practical sea-island planter,.of nearly 
thirty years’ experience: 
«The ‘red-bugs,’ or, as they are sometimes properly denominated, the ‘ cot- 
ton-stainers,’ generally make their appearance about August, or late in July, 
which is near the usual season for cotton to begin to open. They can readily 
_be distinguished from other bugs, harmless in their nature, by their being of a 
red color, and more sluggish in their movements. ‘The nearer the fruit advances 
towards maturity, the more injury they do to the cotton. ‘The pod, or boll, 
is perforated by this bug. Whether the staining matter is imparted to the fibre 
of the cotton during the perforation directly or by a slow process, diffusing 
itself with the sap abounding at that time in the pod, is not yet ascertained. I 
am of the latter opinion, from the fact that almost the entire product of the boll 
is discolored when it opens, which does not seem at all to cause a premature de- 
velopment. As winter approaches, they gradually retire, and take refuge 
among the logs, or burrow into the soil at the root of the cotton-plant, where 
they hybernate After a wet season in winter, they may be found in hundreds 
on the sunny side of the stalks, enjoying the gewfial atmosphere, until towards 
evening, when they again retire. They can be kept down very easily, when 
there are not more than five acres planted to the hand. 
“J have been in the habit of offering a reward every night to the negro that 
brings in the greatest quantity, each of whom is furnished with a pint bottle 
suspended across the shoulders, into which, as they pass along picking the cot- 
ton, they deposit all they can discover. In many instances, I have seen the 
bottle filled by one negro ina day. They may also be greatly reduced, by 
destroying them when they come out in winter, in their half-torpid state; a 
torch of fire in that case is best. They may be buried a foot under ground, 
and most of them will still escape from their inhumation. If there should be 
stumps or trees in the fields, they should be burned, and that will generally re- 
duce the quantity for a year or more. In fact, when they receive timely and 
proper attention, they need not be dreaded. 
«No process that 1 know of can extract the stain produced in the bolls; it 
is indelible, and considerably reduces the price of the cotton in the market. 
These insects have been much on the increase for the last ten years, which I 
attribute to the excess in planting, as well as the want of proper efforts for their 
destruction.” 
