107 
down into the wtem, and its work is thus likely to be confused with 
that of the bollworm. Various cutworms at times attack corn in a 
way which, in the absence of the culprit, would suggest bollworm 
injury. 
PREDACEOUS ENEMIES. 
PREDACEOUS ENEMIES OF THE EGGS AND YOUNG LARV^. 
The exposed position in which the eggs are placed lays them open 
to attack by numerous insect enemies, although the fact that the}^ are 
scattered promiscuously about on the plants no doubt prevents much 
wholesale destruction which might otherwise take place. 
The nymphs and adults of Trijpldejys 
insidiosus Say (see fig. 13) have been 
repeatedly observed feeding on bollworm 
eggs and on very small larvae. This little 
heteropteron is especially abundant in 
fresh corn silk, and is often seen fre- 
quenting cotton plants also. Although 
in a number of instances noticed in the 
laboratory they seem loath to attack 
living larvae, they are sometimes to be fig. is.—Triphieps insicuosus: aduit 
seen in the field with newly hatched and nymph (original). 
larvae impaled on their slender beaks. Their principal value lies, 
however, in the large number of eggs which they destroy. A special 
count was made at Sulphur Springs, Tex., on August 16, 1901, to 
determine the probable proportion of eggs destroyed b}^ this agency. 
The eggs on ten different silking ears were examined, and on an aver- 
age 55 per cent of the eggs were found to be shriveled. It is probable 
that most of these shriveled eggs had been punctured and their con- 
tents sucked out by the Triphleps, which were numerous on the silks 
at that time. This is no doubt an exceptional case, but it serves to 
show of what great value the Triphleps may be under favorable 
conditions. 
Larvae of the coccinellid beetle Megilla maculata DeG. , were observed 
on several occasions feeding upon bollworm eggs, and they probably 
do so ver}^ generally, especially on corn, where Megilla is quite abun- 
dant. In feeding they often tear the Qgg from its support, eat out the 
contents, and cast aside the empty shell. The ladybird larvae can not 
cope with bollworms which are their equal in size, but no doubt often 
feed upon those newly hatched if eggs are scarce. While no other 
species were observed to feed on bollworm eggs or larvae, it is not 
improbable that others do. Figure 11 illustrates a common form in 
cotton fields, feeding on^plant lice and possibly on other insects. 
