32 
about to drop off, a small roundish black spot will be found upon the 
peduncle, the base of the form, or boll. These markings the planters 
designate as " sharpshooter " work, many attributing it to the Boll 
Worm, others to the young Boll Worm, and occasionally an observing 
planter is found who truthfully assigns the injury to some insect other 
than the Boll Worm. The other extreme of intelligence is also found 
which stoutly maintains that this small leaf-hopper is the real Boll 
Worm " fly." 
The young become gradually darker with each molt. When half 
grown they are quite bluish or lead-colored, with distinct wing-pads. 
At this age they begin to run about the plant more, and as they become 
still more mature are often found on the central stem. Previous to 
that time they confine themselves quite closely to the tender, growing- 
parts of the lateral branches. When disturbed they at once rush down 
to the central stem, run up at first, then if still pursued, down again, 
dodging from side to side until they feel that they have escaped, when 
they stop and rest, head downward. 
The imago is brownish, sometimes tinged bluish, or in older speci- 
mens faintly reddish. Fresh females often have a white powdery spot 
on the middle of the fore wings. This spot rubs off easily and is not 
apparent after a time. The adults make a distinct buzz in their short 
flight from plant to plant. They feed usually upon some part of the 
central stem. When feeding they rest head downward and puncture 
the bark with their beaks. While feeding or resting in this position 
they incline the tip of the abdomen outward, often throwing off some 
half dozen drops of liquid in quick succession. The squirting of these 
drops is not noted in the very young, and only occasionally in speci- 
mens not yet full grown. It seems rather to be a habit of the adult. 
The imagos dodge to the opposite side of the stem when approached 
from one side and continue to do so just as the young. Though found 
feeding mostly on the central stem of the cotton plant, the females 
leave these parts and locate among the younger portions when they 
deposit their eggs. July 15 Mr. Banks dissected a female and found 
nineteen eggs, including those that were being formed. The female is 
not easily disturbed when depositing, and can even be pushed aside 
without inducing her to jump or fly. In one instance the form having 
the depositing female upon it was plucked and held in the hand, where 
her performances were quietly observed under cover of the hand lens. 
Late in the season — that is, from about the 1st of September — the 
habits and actions of the adults become variable and less characteris- 
tic. There are certainly two, possibly three, broods during the season. 
The adults begin making their ax>pearance in numbers from about June 
1. By the middle and latter part of June numerous young can be 
found. The second brood begins depositing about the latter part of 
July. After the first days in August the adults are not so abundant 
until the young begin maturing again. The male adults are easily at- 
