THE RED SPIDER ON COTTONi 



9 



Fig 



— Triphleps iiisidiosu'^ in impoitant enemy of the 

 red spider. Much enlarged. (Original.) 



the body contents. The first victim observed was '' drained " in 

 about five minutes, but each succeeding meal was of shorter duration 

 as the appetite became 

 satisfied. The actions 

 of the nymph (fig. 5) 

 are similar, but the in- 

 dividuals observed were 

 seen only to destroy 

 eggs of the spider. In 

 this operation the pro- 

 boscis was not inserted 

 far into the ovum, and 

 two minutes sufficed for 

 draining an egg. 



A species of Chry- 

 sopa or lace-winged fly 

 was s-een abundantly 

 throughout most of the 

 summer, the larva of 

 which is doubtless very active in reducing the pest. 



Two species of thrips, Euthrips fuscus Hinds and E. occidentaUs 

 Pergande, have been determined this season from cotton. They are 



commonly found throughout 

 the season about red spider 

 colonies, and may be very in- 

 strimiental in spider destruc- 

 tion. Scolothrips sexmacnlata 

 Pergande has been recorded as 

 an enemy of the red spider by 

 Pergande and by Duffy. 



Lady-beetle larvfe and adults 

 of several species were com- 

 monly seen on infested loaves. 

 These were usually either 

 Coccinella 9-notata Hbst. or 

 Ilippodamia convergens Gucr., 

 but a small black species, 

 {ScyTunus) Steth/)rus punrtum 

 Lee, was occasionally observed. 

 The larger beetles were prob- 

 ably more intent upon cotton aphides, but the last-mentioned species, 

 although late in appearing and not very numerous, seems to be more 

 restricted to the cotton mite than are other species. 



Fic. 5. — TriiihUps imsUlwsuti: N.vmph. 

 Greatly enlarged. (Original.) 



