290 REPORT OF THE COMmSSIONEE OP AGRICULTURE. 



rata, Fab., RMnuchns nasulus of Say). — Concerning the occurrence of 

 this insect in the cotton-field, Mr. Glover said, in 1855 : 



These insects, thov.gli some-what nnmerous, were never oljserved to suck the sap 

 from the bolls, yet it would be well to investigate their habits more minutelj" before 

 deciding whether they are injurious or not. 



Tlie following short account of the insect is from the dei)artment report 

 for 1875, p. 129 : 



Acanthoce})hala (Mekii^odius) femorata, so called from its swollen, spiny thighs, is a 

 largo reddish-brown or blackish insect, quite abundant in the Southern cotton fields. 

 It is very slow in its motions, and appears to be fond of basking in the suu. The 

 thighs are strongly developed and spiny, especially on the under side, while the 

 Bhanks have broad thin plate or leaf-like projections on their sides, which give these 

 insects a very peculiar appearance. The eggs are smooth, short, oval, and have been 

 found arranged in beads like a necklace on the leaf of white pine. The full-grown 

 insect is said to injure cherries in the Western States by puncturing them with its 

 beak and sucking out the juices, thus pro\ing it, at least in one instance, to bo a 

 feeder on vegetable substances. 



Its importance to the cotton lolanter is shown by the following account 

 by Mr. Trelease : 



Several bugs (Hemipiera) were seen to kill the cotton-worm. Early in the season 

 great numbers of a large ill-smelling bug with dilated hind legs {Acantliocephala 

 femorata) were seen in the weeds and shrubbery about the borders of the cotton jSelds, 

 being very noticeable on account of its buzzing flight. After Aleiia appeared in num- 

 bers, fewer of these bugs were seen, but they were several times seen to catch cater- 

 pillars and suck the juices of their bodies. 



The full-grown insect is shown at fig. 1 of Plate XL Planters will 

 do well to avoid destroying either these insects or their eggs. 



The Deyil's Hoese'^oe Wheel-bug {Prmiotuscristatus,Lm.', Bedu- 

 vius novenarius, Say). (Plate X, fig. 5.) — Mr. Glover, in the 1855 re- 

 port, mentions this insect as among the few beneficial to the cotton 

 plant. He there mentions that he placed a young specimen of Eeduvius 

 in a box with ten caterpillars, aU of which it destroyed in the short space 

 of five hours. 



Concerning the general habits of the insect, we refer the reader to an 

 excellent account by Professor Glover, in the Department of AgTicul- 

 ture Report for 1875, p. 128. 



Por the activeuess of the devil's horse in the cotton fields of the 

 South, many correspondents have vouched, and planters should treat 

 him like the friend that he is. 



The Rapacious Soldier-bug {Sinea multkpinosa, De Geer, [Say's 

 ReduvhiS roptatorins]). — This insect (Plate XI, fig. 2) is found all over 

 the country, K'orth and South, preying upon all kinds of insects. Like 

 the last-named species, when young it devotes itself to plant-lice, but 

 upon attaining its growth it attacks insects of a larger size and of more 

 economic importance. In the Xorth it has done a good work in destroy- 

 ing canker-worms, Colorado potato-beetles, and other pests, and during 

 the past summer they were seen in considerable numbers about the cot- 

 ton fields, engaged in killing the cotton-worms. 



According to the editors of the American Entomologist, Vol. I, p. 207, 

 the eggs of the rapacious soldier-bug are about the size of a common 

 pin's head, are laid in two parallel rows upon the bark of limbs or 

 twigs, and each egg is bordered round its tip-end with a fringe of short 

 Ijrickles. 



When newly hatched, the young soldier-bugs luay be frequently found 

 in the ciui of the common elm-leaf plant-louse {Schizoneura Americana), 

 and also the common apple aphis {Aphis mali), busily engaged in devour- 

 ing the lice , and it is more than probable that in the cotton fields they 



