12 



THE RED SPIDER OX COTTON. 



locality. In all, 99 fields Avere examined as carefully as possible. 

 The following table presents the results : 



Table III. — Rcsutts of (in investigation to determine the degree of infesfatif,), of 

 cotton hij the red siyider at Lecsville, 8. C, 1912. 



Total numl)er of fields visited 



Total number of fields infesled 



Average percentage of infestation for the communit v 



99 

 73 

 73.7 



KiG. 7. — Cotton plant in an early stage of 

 infestation by the red spider. Many leaves 

 are discolored and some of the lower ones 

 have dropped. (Original.) 



Fig. 8. — Cotton plant in well ad- 

 vanced stage of infestation by the 

 red spider. Nearly all leaves, 

 squares, and bolls have been shed. 

 (Original.) 



This occurrence was one of the severest and most general that has 

 at any time come to the writer's attention. Perhaps the most severe 

 case in this locality (and one of the worst yet seen) was one which 

 had its origin in a large clump of badly infested pokeweed stalks 

 at the edge of town (fig. 9). The pest spread fanlike until it 

 reached in one direction a point GOO feet from the pokeweed. The 

 final affected area, semicircular in shape, comprised 13 acres, and 

 within its confines the occurrence was general. While such a case as 

 this was unusual. 1-acre or 5-acre spots, with 25 to 100 per cent dam- 

 age, are frequently to be seen. 



