MEXICAN OONCHUELA IN WKSTEBN TEXAS IX 1905. 5 



often with more or less serious results to neighboring crops. It- 

 should also be noted that the longer time require.! to produce a seed 

 crop is favorable to the production of large number- of the insects. 

 Windrows of alfalfa hay. originally intended for thrashing for the 

 seed, in the field of Mr. Carson, at Barstow, were found to harbor 

 many adult conchuelas which were for the most pari busily engaged 

 in destroying the last few seed clusters. It would thus appear that 

 the danger is not over with the cutting of the alfalfa, and that 

 thrashing should be attended to as soon as possible if the insects are 

 present and injury is to be avoided. 



The only extensive damage to alfalfa by this insect at Barstow 

 during 1005 was on the farm of Mr. J. P. Carson. Other grower-. 

 owing to their experience of the previous year, decided to grow no 

 seed crop; thus indirectly many suffered a loss which should be 

 charged up to the insect, as an average crop of seed has a value equal 

 to several times that of a single cutting for hay. Mr. Carson had .V, 

 acres ready for cutting for the seed the last week in July, but the 

 damage by the bugs amounted to complete destruction, for although 

 the land was originally heavily seeded, there was not sufficient unin- 

 jured seed to defray the expense of thrashing. The lo>s Avas consid- 

 erably more than $1,500, in addition to the partial lo>s of a hay crop 

 in the extra time allowed for the maturity of the seed. 



Miller Brothers in 1005 fortunately avoided the destructive work 

 of the insects and made a fair seed crop. At Barstow tin 1 interval 

 between cuttings for hay is on the average about four and one-half 

 weeks, while for the maturity of the seed an additional period of 

 about three and one-half weeks is necessary. Other farm work pre- 

 vented Miller Brothers from cutting their alfalfa when it was in 

 prime condition for cutting for hay. As the seed began to mature. 

 the scarcity of the pest which had proven so destructive the previous 

 season caused the owners to anticipate a successful seed crop. On Sep- 

 tember 13 the writer, who made a careful examination of the condi- 

 tion of the alfalfa field referred to, found the bugs scarce, a- reported, 

 and the damage to the seed, which was already mature, very slight. 

 The yield of seed reported by Miller Brothers for the 10 acres was 

 1,499 pounds. 



3111.0 MAIZE. 



On August 11 a field of Milo maize was examined at Barstow, and 

 it was found that in certain spots a considerable proportion o\' the 

 seed was ruined, while more or less ruined seed could be found 

 throughout the field. According to the owner, Mr. Oar-on. the con- 

 chuelas had been very abundant a week previous, as many a- 25 of 

 the insects frequently being noted on a single seed head. They were 

 found to be generally distributed throughout the field on August 11. 



