44 



is red in general colour, marked with black and white, the 

 white markings being in the form of a St. Andrew's Cross 

 on the wings, and white spots on the sides. 



Dysdercus delauneyi, Leth. (Fig. 41), is the common 

 cotton stainer of the Southern Islands, extending in its range 

 from Montserrat to Grenada. The general absence of 

 white markings on the body of this insect and the presence 

 of a white band on the base of the apical segment of the 

 antennae serve to distinguish it from the preceding. 



In Grenada, another species (Dysdercus fernaldi, Ballou) 

 also occurs. This species differs from D. delauneyi in having 

 the red ground colour suffused with yellow to such an 

 extent that the yellowish tinge often predominates. 



Barbados is the only island in the West Indies where 

 cotton stainers are not known at the present time. 



The several species of cotton stainers, though differing in 

 appearance, are all alike in habit. They feed on the growing 

 bolls, the seed, and probably also on the leaf and tender stems 

 of the cotton plant. It has not often happened that they 

 have occurred in such numbers as to prove serious pests in 

 these islands, during the past few years ; but their power of 

 rapid increase in numbers and the absence of natural enemies 



five to these insects considerable importance as possible pests, 

 t is recorded that cotton stainers were largely responsible 

 for the downfall of the cotton industry in the Bahama 

 Islands, some forty years ago. 



In addition to feeding on cotton in the field, cotton 

 stainers swarm about all buildings where cotton seed and 

 seed-cotton are stored, finding food and opportunities for 

 breeding. The seed of the silk cotton tree is also a favourite 

 food, while such plants as the musk ochro (Hibiscus 

 Abelmoschus), ochro (H. esculentus), anodyne or seaside 

 mahoe (Thespesia populnea*, and other rnalvaceous plants are 

 often found to harbour these insects. 



Mention has been made of the injury to the plant from 

 the puncturing of the tissues and the sucking of the juice. 

 The name stainer has its origin in the fact that cotton lint is 

 discoloured by these insects. The staining is brought~about 

 by the deposition of the excrement of the insects in the 

 opening bolls, from the crushing of them in the gins, and 

 probably also from disease in the bolls which gains entrance 

 through the punctures made by the insects in feeding. 



