BULLETIN 239, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The collection of Tingitidse at the U. S. National Museum contains 



few specimens of this species. These have been recorded by Mr. 



Heidemann in his paper as follows: Kirkwood, Mo., August 10 



(Riley, Pergande), found on Solanum carolinense and Solanum elae- 



agnifolium; Lavaca County, Tex., June 21; Columbus, Tex., July 29, 



1879 (Riley collection), on coffee weed (Cassia sp.) and Solanum sp.; 



El Reno, Okla., July 12, 1909; Norfolk, Va., June 12, 1913 and 1914 



(Fink), and the author stated at the time "It is recorded as found 



on eggplants in great abundance." The species was also found by 



Dr. F. H. Chittenden, August 12, 1913, and later, and by others, 



including the writer, in the District of Columbia, and by the writer 



in Maryland and at Occoquan, Va. Judging from the localities 



already known it is a native American species and seems to have a 



range of distribution extending from the South Atlantic coast to the 



Southwestern States. 



SEASONAL HISTORY. 



THE ADULTS. 



Early in spring, almost as soon as eggplants are set in the field, 

 the hibernating adults begin to infest them and establish colonies. 

 Thus adults and eggs were found as early as May 20. The adults 

 reproduce and feed the entire summer on the eggplant, but migrate 

 to the horse nettle (Solanum carolinense) during the latter part of 

 August and the first week in September, when the season for eggplant 

 is about over. Here they continue breeding until cold weather sets 

 in. The adults hibernate in the shriveled leaves or in the ground 

 under debris, reinfesting the next crop when set out. 



The egg-laying period in the field lasts from four to five days. In 

 the laboratory the duration is slightly longer, the temperature aver- 

 aging 75° F. Table I indicates the date and number of eggs depos- 

 ited by three females confined in the laboratory. 



Table I. — Number of eggs deposited by females of the eggplant lace-bug, Norfolk, 



Va., 1914. 



Female A. 



Female B. 



Female C. 



Date. 



Number 

 of eggs. 



Date. 



Number 

 of eggs. 



Date. 



Number 

 of eggs. 



June lfi 



57 

 30 

 34 

 ■11 

 23 



June 21 



30 

 •11 

 23 

 23 



July 12 



28 







Julv 13 



31 



June 20 



Juru> 27 



July 15 



42 



June 22 . . 





July 19 



15 



June 24 . . 













Total 



188 





117 





116 











Females that were observed in copulation on July 12, 1914, gave 

 the first complement of eggs July 1-4, 1914. 



