THE (OTTOX LEAF-BUG. 
45 
FIG. 27.— Cotton boll showing- 
punctures of CalocorU rapi- 
du8 (author's illustration!. 
on tlic blossoms and bolls, especially just after the blossom has fallen. Planters 
stated that this injury prevents squares from blossoming and that they drop. At 
this time but few squares were being injured, but planters stated that tin- bugs had 
been very much more abundant and injurious a fortnight previous. In the flower 
they feed at the base of the petals, causing it to wilt and drop. The small bolls fed 
upon dry up and drop off, while if the larger ones are 
much injured they become soft and mushy; some of them 
continue to grow on one side, the punctured side being 
found dead and discolored. The insect appeared about 
the middle of July at Wolfe City, and is stated to have 
done some damage in 1903. During the next ten days 
fields were visited at Commerce, Ennis, Crisp, Cooper, 
and Enloe, and at all of these places conditions were 
found much the same as those described above. Most of 
the damage seemed to have been done to late cotton and 
to the young bolls just after the blossoms had dropped. 
The adult bug is a quick flyer and is difficult 
to capture when disturbed, though it flies but a 
short distance, usually to the next row or for 
a few yards only. The nymphs are swift run- 
ners and are most common on the young squares. 
No eggs were secured, but a very small nymph 
not over 2 or 3 days old, which had probably molted but once, was 
taken September 8. It molted September 16, 19, and 24. when it 
became adult, Another young nymph was taken September 24. molted 
September 28, October 3 and 8, when it became adult. The complete 
life cycle probably does not occupy over thirty days. 
Practically nothing is known of the habits of this species earlier in 
the season. Two specimens were taken at trap light at College Sta- 
tion April 18, and one was received from Wise. Tex.. June 1. 1903. 
At Terrell, the first specimen was taken at trap light June IT, 190-1. 
Later, on July 3, three were taken; on the 7th, 4: 8th, 5; 9th. 4: loth. 5; 
14th. 6; and 26th, 4. 
Where the bugs fed upon the bolls there appeared around each punc- 
ture a black spot, much like the early stages of anthracnose (fig. 27). 
To determine definitely whether or not this was produced by the punc- 
tures of the bugs, six of these were placed on a young cotton plant 
about 8 inches high October 1. Five days later the plant was dead 
from the injury. October 7 six bugs were placed in a bag over a 
fair-sized boll, perfectly green; by the 10th it was well covered with 
the black marks made by the bugs. To make certain of the nature o( 
the injury, bolls were submitted to Dr. A. F. Woods. Pathologist 
and Physiologist of this Department, who reported: "These resemble 
somewhat the early stages of anthracnose. but we have been unable to 
rind any fungus present, and the spots have not enlarged or developed 
any fungus even after several days in a moist chamber." There is no 
