234 



The tbird article mentions the feeding habits of the adult Plum Cur- 

 culio, and details observations which confirm what has long been known 

 to some of us, viz, that this species gnaws holes in apples in August. 



THE RED BUG OR COTTON STAINER. 



(DysdercHS sutu7'ellus H. ScM.) 



The damage done to the Orange crop in parts of Florida during the 

 present winter by this comparatively well-known pest, has suggested 

 the desirability of a general article upon its life history and habits, 

 which is herewith presented. .( 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. ^ 



I 



The Cotton Stainer is a native of tropical America and the West In- 

 dies, but has long been known as an enemy to the cotton crop in the 

 extreme southern United States. In the Bahamas during the period 

 of cotton cultivation it was perhaps the most serious enemy to the crop. 

 According to the results of the investigation made by a committee of 

 the general assembly of these islands in 1801, this bug preceded all other 

 causes of loss in the cultivation of Cotton. In the winter of 1878-'79 

 Mr. Schwarz found it in great numbers in the Bahamas, and considers 

 it by far the greatest enemy to Cotton. On and in a single boll he 

 counted 54 specimecs, young and old. 



That the insect also occurs in Cuba was proved by the receipt of 

 specimens found on a cotton plant in 1879 in Havana, and sent to the 

 Department by Mr. B. W. Law, of that city. We have no knowledge, 

 however, of its occurrence in South America. It is not to be found 

 among the large collections of insects found upon the cotton plant by 

 Messrs. Branner and Koebele during the winter of 1883-'81 at Para, 

 Marauhao, Pernambuco, and Bahia, Brazil, although many other Hete- 

 ropterous insects were collected by them upon Cotton. In Florida Mr. 

 Glover found the Cotton Stainer prevalent at Ocala and Palatka in 

 1858, injuring the cotton plant. In his report for 1875 he again treats 

 of its damage to Cotton, but up to that time it had not, apparently, 

 been reported as damaging the Orange or any other cultivated crop. 

 In our own investigations we have repeatedly met with it in Florida. 



FOOD-PLANTS. 



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The Red Bug as yet damages no cultivated crop except Cotton and 

 the Orange. Mr. Hubbard has, however, observed it feeding upon the 

 seeds of certain malvaceous i)lants which he was not able to determine 

 specifically. Professor Comstock, in the winter of 1879, found it upon 

 a native species of Rose Mallow {Hibiscus sp.), and also upon an intro- 

 duced species which he calls Hibiscus fulgidius, at Maitb*nd, Fla. He 



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