ANTS WHICH PEEY UPON THE WEEVIL. 69 



12. LEPIDOPTEROUS LARV^ WHICH ARE INCIDENTALLY PREDATORY 

 UPON THE BOLL WEEVIL. 



Alahama argillacea Htibner. The cotton leaf caterpillar is distinctly 

 an enemy of the boll weevil and of considerable importance. When 

 it defoliates a cotton field a month or more before the frosts it often 

 destroys immature weevils in the cotton squares and cuts off the entire 

 food supply of the adult weevils remaining. These weevils may be 

 able to suspend their activities and begin hibernation but it is well 

 known that weevils entering hibernation early in the fall can seldom 

 survive a long hard winter, or live until cotton is up in the spring. 

 Those that can not hibernate either die of starvation or rise in flight 

 to seek cotton elsewhere and may perish in the effort. It is presumed 

 that a very high percentage of fljdng weevils fails to find cotton. 



The leaf worm is attacked by 18 predatory bugs, 16 predatory 

 beetles, 6 predatory wasps, and the following ants: Dorymyrmex 

 pijramicus jiavus McCook, Forelius maccooki Emery, Solenopsis 

 geminata Fabricius (these three ants are enemies of the boll weevil) 

 and Monomorium carbonarium Smith. Ten hymenopterous parasites 

 and one hyperparasite are known, and in addition the leaf worm is 

 attacked by a predatory fly and by two parasitic flies. 



13. ANTS WHICH PREY UPON THE BOLL WEEVIL. 



HYMENOPTERA. DORYLIDiE. 



Eciton (Acamatus) commutatum Emery. This ant was taken by 

 Mr. C. R. Jones at Beeville, Tex., attacking the boll- weevil larvae in 

 squares. Dr. W. M. Wheeler states that it is commonly parasitized 

 by a round worm of the genus Mermis. 



PONERIDiE. 



Edatomma tuberculatum Olivier. The ^^kelep," or so-called Guate- 

 malan ant, is a native of Mexico and Central America. Like all other 

 ponerids it is slow in action. The winters have proven too severe 

 for any of the imported colonies. The rate of development is so 

 slow and the movements of the adults are so sluggish that little 

 could be hoped for from this species even if it could become accli- 

 mated in this country. 



MYRMICID^. 



Cremastogaster lineolata (Say) var. clara Mayr. This ant is also an 

 enemy of the boll weevil, having been recorded attacking immature 

 stages at Dallas, Tex., by Dr. W. E. Hinds. It has frequently been 

 seen in the rearing cage carrying off insect prey. The species lives 



