22 



Fig. 27. — Monocrcpidiux 



and squares and working around holes made by the bollworm or square' 

 borer. It is of interest because frequently mistaken for the boll weevil 

 where that insect is not well known. There is some 

 evidence that these beetles sometimes eat into a 

 square, but if so, the injurj^ is rare and inconse- 

 quential. 



The cowpea-pod weevil {OAa^codefmns x?)eus Boh.) 



(tig. 28). — This is commonl}^ an enemy of cowpea, 



working in the pods and seeds of the developing 



peas, but has been observed eating into the stems 



of young cotton plants and sometimes attacking the 



vespcrtinus—enLTged young squarcs in Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia, 



(from Chittenden), ^j^^ injury being more severe in the latter State, 



where cowpeas are more commonly raised. It is 



frequently mistaken for the boll weevil. 



Bruchus amicus Horn. — This small gray beetle, 

 which quite closely resembles the pea weevil, has 

 been observed upon cotton squares in southwestern 

 Texas and was thought to be injurious, but was 

 probablj^ merely feeding upon nectar, as it breeds-^ 

 in the pods of the mesquite. 



Acorn weevils. — Various species of acorn weevils 

 {Balaninm spp.) are frequently found on cotton, 

 especially near woods, and may occasionally be YiG.28.—chaicodermus 

 seen feeding on squares. They never do material a'nefts-eniarged (from 

 injur}^ but may easiw be mistaken tor the boll 



weevil by those unacquainted with the latter pest. 

 Blister beetles. — Blister beetles of various species 

 {Epicauta vittata Fab., E. lemniscata Fab. (fig. 

 29), E. cinerea Forst., and E. ferruginea Sa}^ are 

 frequently found eating holes in the cotton flowers, 

 but never in suflicient numbers to cause material 

 injury. 



A large number of common insects are found 

 upon the cotton plant, some frequenting it habit- 

 ually and others merelj^ accidentall}', but the above 

 are the only ones observed as injurious in Texas in 



recent years. 



CONCLUSION. 



Fig. 29. — Epicauta lemnis- 

 caia — enlarged (from 

 Chittenden). 



It will have been observed that most of the 

 common insect enemies of cotton above described 

 naturally feed upon various common weeds which grow up in neg- 

 lected or uncultivated fields, and that, by the destruction of such 

 weeds, and winter plowing where they have grown, the insects 



223 



