LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Entomology, 

 Washington, D. C, December 13, 1909. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for pubHcation a 

 manuscript entitled ^'Plant-bugs Injurious to Cotton Bolls," by Dr. 

 A. W. Morrill, entomologist of the Arizona Horticultural Commission 

 and of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, Phoenix, Ariz. 

 The work upon which this manuscript is largely based was con- 

 ducted by Doctor Morrill and this report prepared and submitted by 

 him while he was a special field agent of this Bureau. It grew out of 

 an investigation of the so-called ''conchuela" of northern Mexico, a 

 plant-bug which has proved to be especially destructive to cotton 

 bolls. The same insect pest was studied further in western Texas, 

 and other species were investigated both there and in other sections 

 of the United States. 



Although the injury to the cotton crop effected by plant-bugs is of 

 course secondary to that caused by the boll weevil, yet it is by no means 

 inconsiderable and renders necessary a knowledge of the life histories 

 of these injurious bugs and of the best methods for their control. 

 I would therefore recommend the publication of this manuscript as 

 Bulletin No. 86 of the Bureau of Entomology. 

 Respectfully, 



L. O. Howard, 

 Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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