44 PLANT-BUGS INJURIOUS TO COTTON BOLLS. 
Number of eggs per batch. — The conchuela, in common with other 
members of the family Pentatomidse, deposits eggs with considerable 
regularity in parallel rows, each egg except those in the outside rows 
being in contact with 6 others. The frequency with which eggs are 
deposited in multiples of 14 is strongly marked. A total number of 
172 egg-batches of this species was deposited in the laboratory during 
these investigations. The total number of eggs in these batches was 
4,900, or 28.4 eggs per batch. The number of eggs most frequently 
noted in single batches was 28, and the number ranking next in 
frequency was 42. The maximum number of eggs deposited in a 
single batch was 79. 
Rate of deposition of individual eggs. — The intervals between the 
deposition of individual eggs in a batch, with midsummer tempera- 
ture, varies from one minute to one and three-quarters minutes 
according to records made in the case of 2 females under observation 
while depositing eggs. The first of these specimens deposited 13 
eggs in twenty minutes, 4 of which were deposited with one-and-one- 
half-minute intervals. The second specimen deposited 15 eggs in as 
many minutes. 
FEEDING. 
Part of plants preferred. — The conchuela shows a marked preference 
for the juices of the seeds and fruits of its food plants. In a report 
of preliminary investigations of this insect the writer recorded an 
observation regarding this preference. As no specific observation on 
this point has been made, it may be repeated that of 57 adults feeding 
on cotton plants, 43 were on bolls, 4 on leaves, and 10 on stems. The 
proportion feeding on bolls in this observation is less than ordinarily, as 
is incidentally shown by data given in another paragraph relating to 
proportion of time adults spent in feeding. The immature seed are 
the objective point of the insect's attack, as has been stated in de- 
scribing the nature of the plant-bug injury. Rapidly growing bolls 
of medium size are preferred to large, nearly mature bolls, the lint of 
which offers serious resistance to the entrance of the threadlike mouth 
setse. In connection with this preference bolls on the lower branches 
of the cotton plant are less subject to attack than are those growing 
on branches higher up. 
Conspicuous position when feeding. — The conchuela is by far the 
most conspicuous of the Pentatomids destructive to cotton bolls 
which are discussed in this bulletin. This is as much so on account 
of its selection of a feeding place as on account of its size and striking 
color. This characteristic is an important factor under some condi- 
tions in the control of the pest in cotton fields, as will be explained in 
discussing remedial measures. The author's outline of field work 
necessitated the examination of many thousand cotton plants for the 
purpose of counting the insects which were found on them. From 
