14 BULLETIN" 723, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUKE. 
The question of the food plants of the pink bollworm is one which 
has been discussed at considerable length. There are statements in* 
the literature to the effect that the species feeds on pomegranates. in 
Egypt, on milo in Hawaii, and in Egypt and India on teel, okra, and 
hollyhock. The record relating to pomegranates has been withdrawn 
by Mr. H. A. Ballou, who has recently published a statement to the 
effect that it was an error. With reference to milo Dr. D. T. Fulla- 
way has made a statement that the record was from a single specimen 
from a fallen fruit and that this specimen may well have been a 
stray larva which crawled into a cracked milo fruit for pupation. 
Mr. Busck's observations in the Hawaiian Islands did not reveal 
any food plants other than species of the genus Gossypium, that is 
cottons. More recently, howeA T er, a statement has been published to 
the effect that the insect has been reared from a closely related plant 
belonging to the genus Hibiscadelphus. 
The subject of the food plants of the pink bollworm in Mexico 
and Texas is now receiving very special attention. The extent to 
which okra, hollyhocks, and various wild malvaceous plants will 
have to be considered as host plants for the insect in noncotton zones 
depends upon these investigations, which are being prosecuted thor- 
oughly and with the utmost possible dispatch. 
As far as observed, the insect has no preference for cultivated vari- 
eties of cotton. The perennial or Caravonica, Chinese, Sea Island, 
and American Upland varieties growing in Hawaii were attacked to 
the same extent. Similar observations have been made in Egypt and 
India. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
The pink bollworm has a number of insect enemies wherever it 
occurs. In the Hawaiian Islands Busck found at least six species at- 
tacking it. Other species have been recorded from Egypt, Brazil, 
and India. 
By far the most important enemy of the pink bollworm is a small 
mite known as Pediculoides ventricosm Newport. This is a com- 
mon enemy of insects and occurs throughout the world. It seems to 
have increased to a very considerable extent in Egypt, but it does not 
appear that it is likely to be sufficiently abundant at any time to 
serve as an important agency in controlling the pink bollworm. 
Neither does it appear from the available records that any insect or 
mite enemies of the pest are likely to be of any practical importance 
in controlling it. 
It is interesting to note that the mite to which reference has been 
made also attacks human beings. In 1914 large quantities of 
