THE CONCHUELA. 



29 



LIFE HISTORY. 



Methods of Study. 



Studies in the life history of this and other species of plant-bugs 

 were conducted in an improvised laboratory at Tlahualilo, Durango, 

 Mexico, during July, 1905, and at the boll weevil laboratory at Dallas, 

 Tex., after August 5, 1905. The insects were confined in lantern 

 chimneys covered at the top with cheese cloth held in place by 

 rubber bands, the number of adults to a cage ranging from one to 

 five. The adults were provided daily with freshly picked green 

 cotton bolls until about October 1, after which fresh bolls were 



supplied every two 

 days as long as any 

 were available. 

 Nymphs were fed 

 upon fresh green 

 cotton leaves or 

 twigs, cotton bolls 

 cut or broken in 

 two. and imma- 

 ture cotton seed 

 from which the lint 

 was first removed. 

 Records were 

 made at least once 

 each day, noting 

 deaths, eggs de- 

 posited, time of 

 examination, etc. 

 During the writer ' s 

 occasional absences from the laboratory on field work these records 

 were made by Mr. W. W. Yothers and Mr. A. C. Morgan. 



Adults. 



Fig. 6. — The conchuela: Nymph, fifth instar. Enlarged 6 diameters. 

 (Original.) 



PERIOD BETWEEN MATURITY OF ADULTS AND BEGINNING OF EGG-LAYING. 



The data at hand on the length of time elapsing from the maturity 

 of the adults to the beginning of oviposition are not sufficiently 

 extensive to permit the drawing of conclusions. Apparently the 

 specimens upon which the data are based were influenced by the lab- 

 oratory conditions, for the period varied in length from 23 to 95 days 

 and averaged 45 days in the case of the five specimens which were 

 reared to maturity in the laboratory during July and August and 

 which deposited one or more batches of eggs. Three females in addi- 



