OTHER PENTATOMIDS. 87 



of grain crops. During the first week in November, 1904, these bugs 

 were found in large numbers inside the bracts of cotton bolls in 

 various localities in northwestern Texas, commonly known as the 

 'Tanhandle." Feeding was not observed in any case, the bugs 

 appearing in a hibernating condition in the most protected location 

 the cotton plants afforded, quiet and exhibiting signs of life only 

 w^hen disturbed. In 1905 this species was rarely found in the cotton 

 fields in the vicinity of Dallas, Tex., during August, but on September 

 9 it was noted as much more numerous than the brown cotton-bug 

 {Euschistus servus), which occurred in fairly large numbers in August, 

 and had shown no diminution in numbers. 



A nymph of TJiyanta custator in the fifth instar was collected by 

 Mr. F. C. Pratt, at Kerrville, Tex., on May 30, 1906, this being the 

 earliest spring record of the collection of a specimen in this stage, as 

 far as know^n to the writer. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



Eggs of Tachinid flies are frequently found attached to adults of 

 Thyanta custator, but as none of these parasites has as yet been 

 reared to maturity, they are unknown specifically. On examina- 

 tion of 113 specimens of this Pentatomid in the collection at the 

 laboratory of the Bureau of Entomology, at Dallas, Tex., 14, or 

 about 12 per cent, were found to be parasitized. 



In the laboratory Telenomus ashmeadi Morrill has been reared 

 from the eggs of this species and egg-batches have been collected 

 in the fields from which parasites had emerged. 



OTHER PENTATOMIDS FREQUENTING OR ATTACKING COTTON. 



In addition to the species mentioned in the foregoing pages the 

 following Pentatomids are not infrequently found on cotton plants: 

 Murgantia histrionica Hahn, Podisus maculiventris Say, Podisus 

 acutissimus Stal, Proxys punctulatus Pal. Beauv. and Stiretrus an- 

 chorago Fab. With the exception of the first named — the harlequin 

 cabbage-bug — these species are normally predaceous, but it is prob- 

 able that all predaceous Pentatomids will feed more or less on plant 

 juices when the supply of caterpillars or other insect food is insuffi- 

 cient. Of the five species mentioned, the harlequin cabbage-bug 

 alone feeds exclusively on plants. This bug is never found widely 

 distributed in cotton fields and is rarely met with in sufficient abun- 

 dance to cause noticeable damage. Mr. W. A. Hooker found this bug 

 in unusual abundance on cotton at Farmersville, Tex., on September 

 2, 1904, and discovered the source of infestation to consist of a 

 small cabbage-patch located about 10 rods distant. Somewhat 

 similar conditions have been noted in other instances. 



