218 
DISEASES OF THE COTTOlSr PLANT, 
Most of these caterpillars were found about the 20th 
of October, but, unfortunately, died before completing 
their final change. They were not numerous on the plan- 
tations, and therefore could do but little damage. 
The Red Bug, or Cotton-Stainer. — {Lygceus?) 
This destructive insect is found by millions in East 
Florida, on the cotton plantations, where it does immense 
damage by staining the fibre of the cotton in the bolls, 
and rendering it unfit for use where pure white fabrics 
are required. Some specimens were found near Jactson- 
ville, in October, on the open bolls, under the dried calyx, 
and congregating together on the dead leaves under the 
plants, or on rotten logs or decayed wood. Several of the 
open bolls were actually red with these insects, exhibitiiig 
every stage of growth, from the larva to the perfect bug, 
all clustered together in such masses as almost to hide the 
white of the cotton itself The beak, or rostrum, is four- 
jointed, with the end blackish, and when not in use, is re- 
curved under the thorax, which is somewhat triangular in 
shape, with the anterior part red ; a narrow, distinct band 
of whitish yellow divides the thorax from the head ; the 
posterior part is black, edged between the thorax and wing- 
cases with whitish yellow ; the scutellum is triangular, red, 
and edged with a distinct line of whitish yellow on each 
side, and partly down the centre of the wing-case ; the 
elytrse, or wing-cases, are flat, brownish black, and contain- 
ing two distinct X-shaped whitish-yellow lines on them, 
intersecting each other near the centre ; the wing-cases are 
also edged with a distinct yellowish line, as far as the X. 
The body is flattened, and in the female projects on each 
side beyond the wing-cases, showing the bright red of the 
