OTHEB PENTATOMIDS. 87 
of grain crops. During the first week in November, 1004. these bugs 
were found in Luge numbers inside the bracts of cotton bolls in 
various localities in northwestern Texas, commonly known as the 
"Panhandle." Feeding was not observed in .mv case, the bugs 
appearing in a hibernating condition in the most protected location 
the cotton plants afforded, quiet and exhibiting signs of life only 
when disturbed. In 1905 this species was rarely found in the cotton 
fields in the vicinity of Dallas, Tex., during August, but on September 
9 it was noted as much more numerous than the brown cotton-bug 
( h'uscJiistus servus), which occurred in fairly large numbers in August, 
and had shown no diminution in numbers. 
A nymph of Thyanta custator in the fifth instar was collected by 
Mr. F. C. Pratt, at Kerrville, Tex., on May 30, 1906, this being the 
earliest spring record of the collection of a specimen in this stage, as 
far as known to the writer. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
Eggs of Tachinid flies are frequently found attached to adults of 
Thyanta custator, but as none of these parasites has as yet been 
reared to maturity, they are unknown specifically. On examina- 
tion of 113 specimens of this Pentatomid in the collection at the 
laboratory of the Bureau of Entomology, at Dallas. Tex.. 14. or 
about 12 per cent, were found to be parasitized. 
In the laboratory Telenomus as]tn><<i<h Morrill has been reared 
from the eggs of this species and egg-batches have been collected 
in the fields from which parasites had emerged. 
OTHER PENTATOMIDS FREQUENTING OR ATTACKING COTTON. 
In addition to the species mentioned in the foregoing pages the 
following Pentatomids are not infrequently found on cotton plants: 
Murgantia histrionica Halm, Podisus maculiventris Say. Podisus 
acutissimus Stal, Proxys punctidatiLS Pal. Beauv. and Stiretrus an- 
chorago Fab. With the exception of the first named — the harlequin 
cabbage-bug — these species are normally predaceous, but it is prob- 
able that all predaceous Pentatomids will feed more or less on plant 
juices when the supply of caterpillars or other insect food is insuffi- 
cient. Of the five species mentioned, the harlequin cabbage-bug 
alone feeds exclusively on plants. This bug is never found widely 
distributed in cotton fields and is rarely met with in sufficient abun- 
dance to cause noticeable damage. Mr. W. A. Hooker found this bug 
in unusual abundance on cotton at Fanneisville. Tex., on September 
2, 1904, and discovered the source of infestation to consist o( a 
small cabbage-patch located about 10 rods distant. Somewhat 
similar conditions have been noted in other instances. 
