U. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 63, Part VII. C. B. W. I.. February 9, 1907. 



PAPERS ON THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL AND 

 RELATED AND ASSOCLATED INSECTS. 



THE COTTON STALK-BORER. 



{Ataxia crypta Say. ) 



By A. C. Morgan, 



Special Field Agent. 



During- October, 1905, while inspecting cotton fields in the vicinit}" 

 of Yoakum, Tex., the writer's attention was attracted by the great 

 number of dead stalks. Examination -showed that these stalks con- 

 tained larvae, pup«, and adults of the cotton stalk-borer (Ataxia 

 crypta 8ay). 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The specimen which Say described in 1832 as Lainia crypta came 

 from Louisiana. Haldeman's specimen, described as A. sordida^ came 

 from Alabama. Leng and Hamilton recorded the species from Penn- 

 sylvania, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. In Biologia 

 Centrali-Americana its habitat is extended to Almolonga, Mexico. It 

 has been reported to the Department from Tucson, Ariz. ; New Orleans, 

 La.; Savannah, Ga. ; Grant, Fla.; and Round Mountain, San Diego, 

 Beeville, Bexar, Edgar, Flatonia, and Dallas, Tex. During 1905 the 

 writer found it in Texas at Yoakum, Sublime, Corpus Christi, Cotulla, 

 Alice, and Victoria. During February and March of 1906, Mr. W. W. 

 Yothers collected hibernating adults from cotton bolls at Athens, 

 Brenham, Navasota, and Calvert, Tex., and on March 1, 1906, the 

 writer also obtained specimens from bolls at Flatonia, same State. 



HOST PLANTS. 



The cotton stalk-borer attacks a number of plants. At Tucson, 

 Ariz., it was reported on Helianthus and Xanthium. At Savannah, 

 Ga. ; New Orleans, La., and Round Mountain, Tex., larvae have been 

 found boring in the twigs and trunk of the fig. Mr. E. A. Schwarz 

 informs the writer that it has been bred frequently from the stem of 

 Ambrosia, and one report of the borer in this plant w^as received b}^ 



63 



