24 



ton without doing any particular damage as far as it is 

 known. A species of Psocidae, determined by Mr. Nathan 

 Banks as Elipsocus inconstans Perk., is found with great regu- 

 larity on cotton, usually about withered leaves or bolls. It 

 probably feeds exclusively on dry, dead vegetable matter and 

 insect remains. Apparently it does no damage to the cotton. 



Three coleopterous species, Epitragus cliremptus, Araeocerus 

 fasciculatus and Ompatrum serratum, are also found about cot- 



Fig. 16— Coffee been weevil, Arczocems fasciculatus: a, larva; b, beetle; c, pupa. 

 (Copied from Chittenden). 



ton, probably seeking shelter. The last-named species is usu- 

 ally found on the open ground or under trash piles; the two 

 first in crevices in the bolls. Of Araeocerus fasciculatus Dr. 

 Howard says : 



"Araeocerus fasciculatus is a cosmopolitan insect living in the pods 

 of various plants, among others in those of the coffee plant in Brazil, 

 but is never known to attack healthy plants. The perfect weevil is 

 also among the various insects which are mistaken by the planters 

 for the Mexican cotton-boll weevil, but its very short and blunt beak 

 should at once distinguish it from the latter species." 



BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 



The extraordinary multiplication of insects is counterbal- 

 anced in nature by the predatory or parasitic habits of species 



0 



