37 



to 0.20 mm . The form is broadly oval, the width greatest in the anterior 

 third of the body, back of the eyes, where the sides are somewhat 

 distended. The general color of the adults is reddish, usually more or 

 less tinged with yellowish or orange, and most specimens have a dark 

 spot on each side, due to the food contents of the body, from which 

 the scientific name himaculatus (two-spotted) has been derived. 



Careful study of different individuals as they occur on garden vege- 

 tables and horticultural and other plants grown out of doors with 

 those taken in greenhouses shows no appreciable differences. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Banks, however, specimens taken in Florida on Datura and 

 at Washington, D. C, on violets are red, while those from Orono, Me., 

 and those from the District of Columbia on squash and peaches, and 

 those on rose from Idaho, are greenish with more or less dark 

 markings. 



The eggs are extremely minute, spherical, of variable diameter, 

 glassy, and are scattered and loosely attached about the webs. 



The young are of somewhat similar appearance to the adults, but 

 differ in having only three pairs of legs. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



If, as seems probable, Tetranychus cucumeris or some other species 

 described by Boisduval (Entom. Horticole) is identical with the present 

 species of red spider, it is quite likely that it is of foreign origin and 

 introduced into the United States, which is true of a very large pro- 

 portion of greenhouse and other indoor insects. 



The two-spotted red spider is well distributed through the eastern 

 United States, and has been identified as occurring in localities as far 

 west as Idaho. A list of localities from which the species has been 

 reported includes Orono, Me.; Ithaca and New York City, N. Y. ; 

 Westgrove, Pa. ; Washington, D. C. ; Tremont, Pekin, and Blooming- 

 ton, 111. ; Punta Gorda, Key Largo, Galloway, and Eustis, Fla. ; Charles- 

 ton, S. C. ; Auburn, Ala. ; and Weiser, Idaho. 



RECENT INJURIES. 



During the past two years we have received complaints of this spe- 

 cies from various sources, as follows: 



June 9, 1899, from Mr. H. M. Simons, who reported its occurrence 

 on snap beans grown at Charleston, S. C. The species was stated to 

 have literally overrun and totally destroyed the beans where discovered. 

 It had not been seen in previous years, and it was noticed that the 

 season had been very dry. 



July 6 the occurrence of this red spider was reported by Mr. F. S. 

 Earle on cowpea and beans at Auburn, Ala. 



May 8, 1900, it was concerned in injury to raspberry at Blooming- 

 ton, 111., and reported to this office by Mr. J. L. Lampe, jr. 



