INSECTS. 



385 



one night. It is said that the caterpillar which at- 

 tacks the upland cotton, is different from that which 

 ravages the bl^^ck seed, or long staple cotton of the 

 sea islands. The natural history of these insects 

 would be a valuable addition to entomology, and, it 

 is to be hoped that we shall yet obtain it from some 

 of the many well-informed planters of the Southern 

 States. 



In the Bahama islands, it is said, that after many 

 trials, the planters have, at last, succeeded in pre- 

 venting the progress of these destructive insects, 

 by firing cannon in the fields, by which the eggs are 

 destroyed ; and by carrying many hundred small 

 pots or pans of tar and brimstone in a state of inflam- 

 mation, to windward of the field in which the insects 

 appear, so as to cause the smoke to be diffused 

 through it. 



The cotton plant has still another enemy ; viz. a 

 red bug which enters the pod when fully blown, and 

 stains the wool. 



About four years since, it was observed that the 

 pine trees in the northern and eastern parts of the 

 state of South Carolina, died in great numbers, and 

 upon a careful investigation into the cause, it was found 

 to be a small black winged bug resembling the wea- 

 vel, but somewhat larger. A great number of these 

 bugs have been observed, in the spring of the year, 

 and early in the summer, flying near the root of each 

 tree: they pierce the bark a little distance above 

 the ground, and lay their eggs between the bark and 

 the wood ; in a few weeks after, these eggs hatch, 

 and a worm appears, which at its full growth, is 



L 1 2 



