THE COXCHUELA. 
45 
this experience it is certain that in the cotton fields in clear summer 
weather fully 90 per cent of the conchuelas are visible to the observer 
from a standing posture and without moving any part of the plant. 
It was a rare occurrence, when making records of the kind indicated, 
that any additional specimens of these insects were found by using 
the hands to open up the plant. Only a few instances have been 
observed where the adult conchuela has been entirely or almost en- 
tirely hidden by the bracts of the cotton boll on which it was feeding. 
When feeding on a boll these insects generally occupy a position on 
the upper half. When resting, during bright sunlight, they are com- 
monly observed in a conspicuous position on the cotton boll or on the 
upper surface of the leaves. The resting in the sun is usually observed 
during the forenoon. 
Proportion of time adults spend in feeding. — In the determination of 
the amount of damage an individual conchuela is capable of inflicting 
in a cotton field it is important to know what part of its time it is 
engaged in feeding on cotton bolls. Observations were conducted 
both in the laboratory and in the field, and the results are summarized 
in the following tables: 
Table XVII. — Feeding records on the conchuela in the field, Tlahualilo, Durango, 
Mexico, July 22, 1905. 
Hours of observation. 
Number of eon- 
X umber of con- 
X umber of ob- ; h „ plas fpPf w chuelas crawl- Per cent feed- 
servations. c "fi^An, g ing or resting ing on bolls. 
on mmjs. on plants . 
9 a. m. to 12 m 
lp. m. to 5.30 p. m 
Summary for dav 
251 
311 
142 
51 
109 
15 
193 
124 
Table XVIII. — Laboratory feeding records on the coyichuela. Lot A." Si et I. Tla- 
hualilo, Durango, Mexico, July tO-tt y 1905. 
Hours of observation. 
X umber of ob- 
servations. 
Xumber of con- Number of con- 
chuelas feeding 
on bolls. 
chuelas not 
feeding. 
Per cent 
feeding. 
fi.30a. m. to 8.30 a. m. 
9 a. m. to 12 m 
1 p. m. to 5 p. in 
5.31) p. in. to 7 p. in . . . 
8 p. m. to 10 p. m 
115 
72.4 
a 
a a 
Table XIX. — Laboratory feeding records o)i the conchuela. Lot A. > i II. Pallas. 
Tex., Septeml 
Hours of observation. 
Number of ob- 
servations. 
Number of con- Number of con- 
chuelas feeding chuelas not 
on 1k)11s. feeding. 
Per cent 
fee 1 
6 a. m. to 12 m 
47 
24 
-'! 
8 
9 15 
15 
17 
1p.m. to 6 p. in 
7 p. in. to 10 p. m 
« Collected in cotton fields in Tlahualilo between July 6 and 10. 
