76 PLANT-BUGS INJURIOUS TO COTTON BOLLS. 



heckia sp. (one locality), Rubus sp. (one locality), peach (one locaKty), 

 and evening primrose, Gaura parvifolia (one locality). In addition 

 to these records, Scott and Fiske^ have reported specimens of the 

 brown cotton-bug abundant among material obtained incidental to 

 extensive experiments in jarring for the plum curculio in Georgia. 



LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 



Four female and 1 male specimen and many nymphs of the brown 

 cotton-bug were under observation in the laboratory. Egg-laying 

 records of only 3 specimens are available, but these seem to show that 

 the capacity of this species in this respect is fully equal to that of the 

 species heretofore considered. The maximum number of eggs 

 deposited by a single specimen was 162, the specimen concerned being 

 collected on cotton on August 19, 1905. In confinement, a specimen 

 collected in August lived 72 days, three specimens collected in Sep- 

 tember lived 90, 73, and 30 days, respectively, and a specimen col- 

 lected in April lived 45 days. The last specimen probably had over- 

 wintered as an adult and was therefore several months old at the time 

 the record began. 



The average incubation period of 5 batches of eggs of the brown 

 cotton-bug corresponded to within 8 hours with the average of 21 

 egg-batches of the conchuela. At an average daily mean temperature 

 of 78.9° F., the average incubation period of 5 batches of eggs was 

 found to be 4 days and 17 hours. The duration of the nymphal stages 

 corresponds closely with that of the conchuela. 



Observations thus far, in the regions where these studies were 

 made, have not shown any decided preference of the brown cotton- 

 bug for any particular food plant early in the season, but after the 

 appearance of the bolls upon the cotton plants comparatively few 

 specimens are found outside of the cotton fields. Doubtless weeds 

 growing in profusion along the roadsides and fences furnish favorable 

 breeding places in early summer for the bugs, which later turn their 

 attention to the cotton. 



On the average this bug deposits fewer eggs per batch than does 

 the conchuela or grain bug. For 16 batches which have come under 

 the writer's observation, the average number per batch was 16.4, the 

 maximum being 34, and the minimum 5. Forty-two per cent were 

 <leposited in batches of 14 and its multiple. 



The brown cotton-bug is occasionally attracted to lights, but not 

 in sufficient numbers to lead to the belief that light trapping in badly 

 infested cotton fields would give good results. 



SEASONAL HISTORY. 



In the latitude of Dallas, Tex., the hibernated individuals of both 

 sexes of the brown cotton-bug are fairly common about or soon after 



«BuL 31, Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr., p. 34, 1902. 



