14 BULLETIN 723, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF Ar.ETCULTURE. 



The question of tlie food plants of the pink boUworm is one which 

 has been discussed at considerable length. There are statements in 

 the literature to the effect that the species feeds on pomegranates in 

 Eg3'pt, on milo in Hawaii, and in Egypt and India on teel, okra, and 

 hollyhock. The record relating to pomegranates has been withdrawn 

 by Mr. H. A! Ballon, who has recently published a statement to the 

 effect that it was an error. With reference to milo Dr. D. T. Fulla- 

 way has made a statement that the record was from a single specimen 

 from a fallen fruit and that this specimen mnj well have been a 

 stray larva which crawled into a cracked milo fruit for pupation. 



Mr.Busck's observations in the Hawaiian Islands did not reveal 

 any food plants other than species of the genus Gossypium, that is 

 cottons. More recentl}^, however, a statement has been published to 

 the effect that the insect has been reared from a closely related plant 

 belonging to the genus Hibiscadelphus. 



The subject of the food plants of the pink bollworm in Mexico 

 and Texas is now receiving very special attention. The extent to 

 which okra, hollyhocks, and various wild malvaceous plants will 

 have to be considered as host plants for the insect in noncotton zones 

 depends upon these investigations, which are being prosecuted thor- 

 oughly and with the utmost possible dispatch. 



As far as observed, the insect has no preference for cultivated vari- 

 eties of cotton. The perennial or Caravonica, Chinese,' Sea Island, 

 and American Upland varieties growing in Hawaii were attacked to 

 the same extent. Similar observations have been made in Egypt arid 

 India. f 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



The pink bollworm has a number of insect enemies wherever it 

 occurs. In the Hawaiian Islands Busck found at least six species at- 

 tacking it. Other species have been recorded from Egypt, Brazil, 

 and India. 



By far the most important enemy of the pink bollworm is a small 

 mite known as Pediculoides ventricosus Newport. This is a com- 

 mon enemy of insects and occurs throughout the world. It seems to 

 have increased to a very considerable extent in Egypt, but it does not 

 appear that it is likely to be sufficiently abundant at any time to 

 serve as an important agency in controlling the pink bollworm. 

 Neither does it appear from the available records that any insect or 

 mite enemies of the pest are likely to be of any practical importance 

 in controlling it. 



It is interesting to note that the mite to which reference has been 

 made also attacks human beings. In 1914 large quantities of 



