6 BULLETIN 239, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
observation: On one occasion while observing the feeding of the 
nymphs a ladybeetle {Hippodamia convergens Guer.) was seen to 
approach the brood, when the adult lace-bug in attendance on the 
nymphs, with outstretched, slightly raised wings, suddenly darted 
toward the intruder, driving it from the leaf. 
From the time the nymphs are born until they reach the adult 
form they pass through five distinct molting periods, and when tem- 
perature and other conditions are normal the time between molts is 
quite constant. From Table III it will be observed that two days 
is the usual period between molts. 
Table III. — Molting stages of nymphs of the eggplant lace-bug. Norfolk, Ta.. 1914. 
No. 
Date 
hatched. 
First 
molt, 
Second 1 Third 
molt. molt. 
Fourth 
molr. 
Fifth ■ , H 
molt. Adult - 
1 
July 9 
...do 
July 11 
...do 
...do 
July 12 
July 11 
...do 
...do 
...do 
...do 
July 13 
...do 
...do 
July 15 
July 13 
...do 
...do 
...do 
...do 
July 15 
...do 
...do 
July 17 
July 15 
...do 
...do 
Dead. 
July 15 
July 17 
...do 
...do 
July IS 
...do 
July 17 
...do 
...do 
...do 
2 
3 
4 
...do 
July. 10 
July 9 
...do 
...do 
...do 
...do 
July 7 
Adult. 
9~~I"">~I-I"I~~I~:I~-~- 
LIFE CYCLE AND NUMBER OF GENERATIONS. 
Since two days represents the duration of time between molts, the 
life of the nymph from the egg to the last nymph, under normal 
conditions, is 10 days. Allowing six days for the egg stage and sev- 
eral days for time before and after copulation by adults, the life cycle 
is approximately 20 days. 
In the vicinity of Norfolk, Va., this lace-bug was found breeding 
as late as November, giving a breeding season of nearly six months. 
There is a possibility of from seven to eight generations a season. 
Apparently six generations are spent on eggplant and the remainder 
on horse nettle. 
Most of the generations in the field overlap, and the following 
observations made during the summer of 1914 indicate that six 
generations are spent on eggplant. 
I Fourth generation. -July 26. 
Fifth generation. August 15. 
I Sixth generation. September 4. 
In the region of Norfolk, Va., as stated before, the growing season 
for eggplant ends about the last of August or the first week in Sep- 
tember, after which the lace-bug is found on the horse nettle (Sola- 
num carolinense) } where it continues to feed. It undoubtedly pro- 
duces several generations on this plant, for as late as November all 
stages of the insect, including eggs, were found on it. 
First generation. May 24. 
Second generation, June 11 
Third generation. July 7. 
