16 PLANT-BUGS INJURIOUS TO COTTON BOLLS. 
this insect-damage (PL II, fig. 5). However, the fact that they have 
been produced in some cases differentiates the injury by this Capsid 
from that of all Pentatomids, Coreids, and Pyrrhocorids which has 
come under the writer's observation. Investigations during the past 
two years in many sections of Texas and in northern Mexico with 
representatives of these three last-mentioned families of Heteroptera 
have failed to show a direct connection between spots of any kind on 
the outside of the carpels of the injured bolls and the insect's punc- 
tures. In nearly all cotton fields bolls can be found which are marked 
with reddish or brownish spots (PL II, fig. 8), more frequently seen 
on the parts of the boll not covered by bracts, and never showing on 
the inside of the carpels. It is apparently an evidence of a physiolog- 
cal disorder of little or no consequence, but in some cases these spots 
have appeared to bear a relationship to the condition of the developing 
lock. To determine if any such relationship existed in the case of 
green bolls damaged by plant-bugs, 100 bolls were examined, with 
the following results: 
Average number of spots in 25 bolls with slightly stained locks 2. 24 
Average number of spots in 75 bolls with badly stained locks 3 
Percentage of badly stained bolls without spots 10 
Percentage of slightly stained bolls without spots 46 
A second lot of green bolls picked from plants on July 11, 1905, was 
examined and the results are here presented in tabular form. 
Table I. — Relation of external spots to plant-bug injury of cotton bolls. 
Number of external spots. 
Number of 
bolls. 
Number of 
bolls dam- 
aged. 
Number of 
bolls un- 
injured. 
17 
11 
10 
17 
9 
7 

One 
2 
3 
Total 
38 
33 
5 
The punctures may be through the spot, but this is entirely acci- 
dental. One boll of the above lot showing over 60 conchuela punc- 
tures was found to have but three small external spots, while the 
carpel of the lock most severely damaged was entirely free from dis- 
coloration. Among those examined which showed but one external 
spot, several were as badly damaged as any of the entire number. 
From the foregoing observations we may conclude that the spots 
here referred to with which every cotton grower is familiar do not bear 
a direct relation to punctures by plant-bugs, for the spots may be 
present on bolls which show no punctures, which in all cases are detect- 
able when present as hereafter described, and may be absent on badly 
damaged bolls. They are shown, however, to have a secondary 
