THE GLASSY-WINGED SHARPSHOOTER. 53 
as "the sharpshooter." Moreover, when the insect was described to 
planters, many recognized it as "the dodger," which name they had 
given it from its characteristic habit of dodging around the stalk when 
slightly disturbed, and stated that though they had seen it commonly 
on cotton for years they had never thought it injurious. In our own 
field observations we have sometimes seen this species quite abundant 
on cotton, but have never noted any injurious effect from its presence. 
and it is never so abundant on cotton as on other preferred food 
plants. It is exceedingly fond of young sorghum, sunflowers, and 
bananas. Prof. H. A. Morgan informs us that he has seen sunflowers 
considerably injured by the large numbers of these insects upon them. 
To further test the matter, numerous observations were made upon 
individuals confined in cages upon cotton, both in the laboratory and 
field. In only one instance was anything like injury to the squares 
observed. In this instance two specimens were confined on a twig of 
cotton bearing three squares. Five days later two of the squares were 
flaring, and by very close examination a very small puncture, but 
slightly larger than the black markings on the square, was found on 
the side of each. Observations a few days later in a field where the 
adults were very abundant on cotton showed no such injury, however, 
so that it is doubtful whether or not the supposed punctures were 
made by these insects. Indeed, it is safe to assert that the insect does 
not feed or oviposit upon the squares or bolls, except by the merest 
accident in very exceptional cases. It is always seen feeding upon the 
stems, and the v^g^ are laid in the leaves or possibly in the bracts, but 
preferably on other plants than cotton. 
The occurrence of this species on cotton has been noted by Riley 
and Howard in Insect Life/' The only other previous observations 
recorded are those of Mally and Banks/' who give a very excellent and 
detailed account of the process of oviposition and state that "they feed 
by puncturing the epidermis at the base of the fiowerbud or the very 
young boll * * * . Soon after the form or small boll will 'flare 5 
and drop off. If examined when about to drop off a small roundish 
black spot will be found upon the peduncle, the base of the form, or 
boll." This is stated to refer to the feeding habits of the young. It 
is the popular impression, however, that it is due to the feeding i^' the 
adults. As previously stated, neither the writer and assistants nor. 
as we are informed, any of the other field agents of this Bureau, work- 
ing in the cotton fields of Texas and Louisiana have been able to rec- 
ognize any injury caused by this insect. We therefore wrote Pro- 
fessor Mally concerning the above account of the injury and received 
a 1S9L>: Vol. V, pp. 150-154, tig. 10. 
&1893: Bui. 29, o. s., Div. Ent, U. S. Dept A.gric, pp. 31-33, 
