THE RED SPIDER ON COTTON. 39 
(1914); and Parker (1913) states that a closely allied species, 7. tris- 
ticolor, was the most numerous red-spider enemy in the hop fields, but 
that no controlling effect could be detected. 
This predator, coming 
upon a red spider like a 
flash, thrusts its sharp 
proboscis through the 
mite’s back and siphons 
out the body contents. 
In the case of one bug, 
the first mite was drained 
in about five minutes, 
but each succeeding meal 
was of shorter duration, 
so that the average time 
required for each meal 
was found to be about 
three minutes. The ac- 
tions of the nymph (fig. 
11) are similar. Both 
adults and nymphs feed 
Fic. 10.— Triphleps insidiosus, an important enemy of the red 
spider: Adult. Much enlarged. 
(McGregor). 
upon the mites in all stages from egg to adult, but the Triphleps adult 
will not ordinarily consume mite eggs unless other food is scarce. 
Fig. 11.— Triphleps insidiosus: Nymph. 
larged. (McGregor.) 
Greatly en- 
The operation of draining an egg © 
requires about two minutes. 
These bugs pass the winter 
in the adult stage and usually 
become active some time in 
Apri, although they have been 
seen as early as the middle of 
March. ‘Triphleps becomes ex- 
tremely abundant by the first 
of July, and assists greatly in 
the reduction of the red spiders. 
Although it seeks hibernation 
toward the end of October, in- 
dividuals are commonly seen 
some years as late as the middle 
of this month. 
By referring to Tables VIII 
and IX it will be seen that 8 in- 
dividuals collected as various 
instars of the nymph drained 1,856 red spiders in 57 feeding days. 
The average daily consumption of the nymph was 33.16 mites, that 
of the adult was 28.88, and the daily average for all individuals was 
