82 PLANT-BUGS INJUKIOUS TO COTTON BOLLS. 



which an egg of one of these flies had been attached. This speci- 

 men was a female collected by Mr. F. C. Pratt, at Boerne, Tex., on 

 beans, September 29, 1905. On October 12 the specimen died, but 

 dissection showed no trace of the parasite. 



The eggs of the green soldier-bug, however, are frequently para- 

 sitized. At Amherst, Mass., on July 15, 1902, large numbers of eggs 

 were found on the leaves of European linden, and of about 250 

 collected more than 90 per cent produced Proctotrypid parasites. 



From a batch of 27 eggs collected on September 29, 1905, by Mr. 

 Pratt at Boerne, Tex., 15 parasites were reared. These proved to 

 belong to the genus Trissolcus. 



Professor Sanderson has referred to a report from a correspondent 

 of the Bureau of Entomology, to the effect that a specimen of Euthy- 

 rhijnchus fioridanus L. had attacked and killed a specimen of the 

 green soldier-bug, but this should probably be considered as, at the 

 most, only an exceptional occurrence. 



NEZARA VmiDULA L. 



The species Nezara viridula L. (fig. 16), which is readily distin- 

 guished from all other members of the genus by the shorter osteolar 

 canal, has been found in many parts of the world. In the United 

 States it occurs throughout the cotton belt. It has been reported 

 as injurious to potato vines in India,^ and in this country to sweet 

 potato vines in Louisiana ^ and to oranges in Florida.^ 



Mr. W. A. Hooker, at that time an agent of this Bureau, who was 

 located at Quincy, Fla., from October 23 to November 9, 1905, found 

 this bug very abundant at that place, destroying potato vines and 

 occurring commonly on cotton plants. The infested potato vines 

 comprised a small patch of about one-fourth of an acre, and late in 

 October it was estimated that there were on each vine an average of 

 between 3 and 5 adults and 15 and 20 nymphs. The attacked 

 vines turned dark, beginning at the tips of the branches — which 

 seemed to be the favorite feeding place- — and finally wilted. As the 

 tubers had not attained their mature size the crop was much re- 

 duced. These bugs were in sufficient numbers on cotton plants in 

 the vicinity to cause considerable damage, although the potato was 

 evidently the more preferred plant. 



Mr. Hooker took several specimens in Florida which had been 

 attracted to light of ordinary kerosene lamps in houses and the 

 writer has taken a specimen at a 16-candle power electric light at 



a Insect Life, Vol. II, p. 61, 1889. 

 & Insect Life, VoL V, p. 261, 1893. 

 c Insect Life, VoL V, p. 264, 1893. 



