NATURAL CONTROL. 137 



of insect enemies, and probably many more species will be found as 

 the weevil enters new regions. In fact, records of parasite and ant 

 attack have been found as early as two weeks after invasion of new 

 territory. 



ARACHNIDA. ACARINA. SARCOPTOIDEA. 



Pediculoides ventricosus Newport. — This mite has been prominent 

 in the study of the boll weevil since its first notice (Rangel, 1901) 

 under the name of Pediculoides ventriculosus . These mites reproduce 

 viviparously, and their offspring are mature and fertile at birth. 

 After attachment to a host the abdomen begins to inflate until it 

 becomes many times greater than the thorax. The time required 

 for engorgement varies from two to five days. An average of 100 

 female offspring to an individual has been recorded. 



Pediculoides n. sp. — This mite was discovered in the laboratory at 

 Dallas, Tex., June 13, 1907, by the junior writer. Observations con- 

 tinued for some time proved that there was a generation about every 

 four days. The mite has been found attacking several other species 

 of weevils as well as many other insects. 



Tyroglyphus hreviceps Banks. — This species has been recorded as 

 an enemy of the boll weevil from Victoria, Tex. A similar mite has 

 also been found at Calvert, Tex. 



GAMASOIDEA. 



Macrocheles n. sp. — Mr. Harry Pinkus found this mite very com- 

 mon in the fallen cotton squares at Tullulah, La., during August, 

 1911, feeding upon the boll-weevil stages. It has not been definitely 

 proved that the species kills the weevil, but the evidence is more or 

 less conclusive. 



INSECTA. ORTHOPTERA. MANTID.E. 



Stagmomantis limbata Hahn. — This insect has been found to prey 

 upon the adult boll weevil in Texas. 



HETEROPTERA. REDUVIID^E. 



Apiomerus spissipes Say. — This predatory bug has been recorded 

 by Mr. A. C. Morgan as an enemy of the adult boll weevil in Texas. 



COLEOPTERA. CARABID.E. 



Evarilirus sodalis LeConte. — This species (fig. 31) is a predator 

 upon the adult boll weevil in Louisiana and Texas. 



Evarihrus sp. — Another species of the genus has been recorded by 

 Newell and Trehearne as predatory upon adult boll weevils at Baton 

 Rouge, La. 



CANTHARID^E. ■ 



Chauliognathus spp. (see fig. 32). — The larvae of these beetles are 

 very common in the squares and bolls of cotton in Louisiana and 

 Mississippi. In one instance undoubted proof of the attack of such 

 a larva upon a boll- weevil larva was recorded. 



