166 REPORT UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



The mantis winters in the egg state and its peculiar egg masses (see 

 Fig. 11) are abundant and conspicuous upon tree twigs throughout the 

 winter. 



In spite of the good reputation of these "rear-horses" as insect des- 

 troyers, Mr. J. H. Krancher, of Millheim, Austin County, Texas, seems 

 to be the only one of our correspondents who has actually seen them kill 

 the cotton-worms, as he includes them in his list of insect enemies. In 

 addition, Mr. Trelease reports the following : 



My friend Mr. Jolin Wilkins, of Selma, Ala., tells me that iu the canebrake lie has 

 several times seen the common green mantis (Mantis Carolina) leap upon these larvae 

 (cotton-worms) on plants near the borders of cotton-fields, but these insects do not 

 venture far from the bushes around the field. 



It is probable, however, that these insects are more abundant than it 

 would seem at first glance, and when the cotton is well grown will 

 probably be found in all parts of the field and not confined to the 

 bushes around its border. They should never be thoughtlessly killed. 



The next order, HEMIPTEKA, contains several hard-working cotton- 

 worm enemies. 



THE SPINED SOLDIER-BITO (Anna (Poclisus) spinosa Dallas). This 

 insect (Fig. 12) is a most useful one from its usual cannibalistic habits. 

 Mr. Glover's resume of its habits is as follows :* 



" Ins. found puncturing the leaves and limbs of apple-trees and suck- 

 ing out the sap (Fitch). It is, however, also beneficial as destroying 

 the larvseof the Colorado potato-bug (Doryphora W-lineatca) by punc- 

 turing them with its beak and sucking out their juices. It also de- 

 stroys lady-bugs (Coccinella) (American Entomologist) Audrena, a 

 wild bee, and the American gooseberry saw-fiy (Prisliphora grossu- 

 FIG. 12. Arma i aria ,, Walsh; also the Cicada (Am. Ent., L, 4T). This insect is said 

 spinosa. to be Qne of the ki tterest enem i es to the Colorado potato-bug, and 

 therefore, although it may perhaps do some injury to fruit trees, it ought to be re- 

 garded as a public benefactor and not destroyed." 



There can be no doubt but that this insect does an excellent work in 

 the cotton-fields of the South. Dr. Phares says, in answer to question 

 6 a of the 1878 circular: 



Many are said to do so, of which I cannot testify ; but for the following I can : 

 Soldier-bugs pierce the caterpillar, suck their juices, and thus destroy them (see illus- 

 trative plate, Rural Carolinian, August, 1870, p. 683). The soldier-bug presents his 

 lance, moves deliberately and steadily along till the caterpillar is impaled. 



Specimens were also received from Mr. Trelease, with the remark that 

 he had observed them on several occasions to kill the cotton-worm. In 

 addition to these statements, we have two more which may possibly 

 refer to this insect, although they may just as well refer to any one of 

 the many others in this order. Mr. George F. Webb, of Amite County, 

 Mississippi, says : " There is an insect, the name of which I cannot 

 give, that pierces with its beak into the worm, and the worm expires ; 

 but this is of no consequence, the number of worms being billions 

 and the bugs being comparatively few." Dr. J. U. Ball, of Bayou Sara, 

 "Manuscript Notes from my Journal, Hemiptera. Washington, 187G. 



