THE CONCHTJELA. 65 



that the insects concerned in this work were either CoccinelHd beetles 

 or ants. As regards insects of the former group, there is no direct 

 evidence of their connection with the destruction of eggs mentioned, 

 but in a cotton field a small undetermined ant has been observed to 

 work assiduously for several minutes attempting to separate an egg 

 from a batch. This observation gives basis for the supposition that 

 various species of ants are somewhat beneficial as destroyers of the 

 eggs of Pentatomid pests. The destruction of eggs by any of the 

 insects mentioned is not always productive of the best results, for it 

 is possible, and in some cases probable, that a large part of the number 

 thus destroyed might have produced adult Proctotrypid parasites, 

 the great value of which has been discussed. 



AttacJcing nijm'phs. — Even newly-hatched nymphs of the conchuela, 

 as well as most other Pentatomids, are provided with glands which 

 produce offensive volatile fluids. The value of such secretions as pro- 

 tection against spiders and predaceous insects is problematical. Pre- 

 daceous Pentatomids are cannibalistic in many cases, and it is not 

 to be presumed that such insects discriminate between the flavor of 

 their own and other species. The writer has observed a nymph of 

 Podisus maculiventris Say attacking a much larger nymph of Euschistus 

 fissilis Uhl.- — both species of Pentatomids which give off disgusting 

 odors when disturbed. Only one predaceous Hemipteron (Zelus ren- 

 ardii Kol.) has been observed to feed on the nymphs of the conchuela. 

 This has so far been observed only in the laboratory, but the circum- 

 stance indicates that it is of frequent occurrence in the field. This 

 Reduviid is common in the cotton fields in both Texas and Mexico, 

 and the nymphs not only voraciously attack one another but any 

 other insect which crosses their path. The adults frequently capture 

 and suck the juices from bees of various kinds which visit the cotton 

 blooms. In confinement an adult destroyed 4 nymphs of the con- 

 chuela within 24 hours. Nymphs of the Reduviid readily attack 

 nymphs of the conchuela, and one specimen of the former was reared 

 to maturity with its diet limited to nymphs of the Pentatomidse. 

 Many other species of Reduviidae are commonly found in cotton 

 fields and doubtless may be relied upon to destroy a small percentage 

 of the nymphs of injurious Pentatomids. 



Among other orders of insects the author has but one record of 

 predaceous forms attacking nymphs of the conchuela. A larva of 

 an unknown Syrphid fly on a cotton leaf, supplied as food to nymphs 

 of the conchuela in the second instar, quickly destroyed two of the 

 young bugs. Credit for this observation is due Mr. W. W. Yothers 

 of the Bureau of Entomology. 



Nymphs of the conchuela have been found on cotton plants en- 

 meshed in spider webs, but spiders have never actually been observed 

 feeding on this Pentatomid, although an immature spider about one 

 22348— Bull. 86—10 5 



