KERITEL-SPOT OF THE PECAN AND ITS CAUSE. 



L.) were in these cases either 

 directly or indirectly the cause 

 of kernel spots, with the evi- 

 dence strongly favoring a direct 

 causal relation. The southern 

 stinkbug is a rather omniv- 

 orous feeder. Furthermore, 

 it will feed upon any part of 

 the plant, but shows a decided 

 preference for fruit and seeds. 

 Jones (3), Morrill (^), Watson 

 (7), and Drake (2) have cited 

 the insect as feeding on the 

 following plants: Tomatoes, 

 okra, mesquite, cowpeas. beans. 

 most Cruciferse, cotton, citrus, 

 peach, grape, rattlebox, etc. 



Turner reports that the south- 

 ern stinkbug appears to attack 

 cowpeas w^hen these are pres- 

 ent in preference to all other 

 plants, either cultivated or 

 wild. The writer and many 

 growers have observed that the 

 greatest prevalence of kernel- 

 spot OA^er large areas is found 

 in or near orchards where cow- 

 peas are growing. 



It is a common practice of 

 the pecan gTOwers throughout 

 the southern United States to 

 plant cowpeas between the tree 

 rows to be used either as hay 

 or plowed under as a cover crop. 

 When the hay is harvested or 

 the i^ea vines die down natu- 

 rally the bugs, if present, will 

 migrate to the pecan nuts, often 

 in great numbers. 



Frequently kernel-spot will 

 be found in great abundance 

 on ntits that have grown in 

 close proximity to gardens 

 where tomatoes, okra, or other host plants are present. This is 

 especially noticeable in orchards where some crop other than cow- 

 peas has been planted. 



Fig. 4. — Type of cage used for confining 

 insects with nuts. 



