SALT-MAB8H CATERPILLAR. 
-puis and the upper tender part of the main etem, often just below a leaf, bat 
rarely apon the base of the r-tem near the ground. The punctures upon leaf - 
are BO close as to practically -ever the stem; th< eaf £ n wither- and diee 
drops. In some cases the beetles seem to stay over the puncture after it is made 
an<l suck up the gap which accumulates. In several cases we found a beetle upon 
the shady Bide of a >tem. remaining over or clos< - ral punctures, indicating 
that a single individual may make several punctures an<l take the sap that accumu- 
late- in all of them. Punctures in a case of this kind are not over i - ath to 
one-eighth of an inch apart, and from two to four are found in each group. We are 
inclined to think that the punctures are made purposely for securing the -ap and 
not for devouring the tissue. Eight punctures were counted on a plant not over 2 
inches high, and in this rield were found an average of from 5 to as many as 16 
V«eetles on and about each plant. In this 15-acre rield fully 25 per cent of the cotton 
stalks had been killed by the attacks of this beetle, and in some small areas as much 
as half had been killed. 
During the day the weevils hide for the most {part in the loose dirt about the plants 
at a depth of from one-half an inch to 2 inches. They occurred also on neighboring 
farms, but in no other case in such injurious numbers. In all cases the own- - 
infested fields reported that the first appearance of these insects in the cotton was in 
those portions of the fields that had been in cowpeas the year previous. About 
three weeks later — May 27 — the injury became less, owing to the more rapid growth 
of the plants, and perhaps also to the greater dissemination of the beetles. 
The use of arsenical- is not likely to result satisfactorily unless the treatment is 
exceptionally thorough. If cotton is not planted after cowpeas the pest will be dis- 
posed of. but the latter crop is very necessary in the rotation plan.- of the Georgia 
farmer. Where these beetles appear in the cotton fields in early spring we SUggi - 
merely that chopping be as long delayed as possible or until the amount of damage 
can be accurately forecasted. The injury will probably not result in more than a 
severe thinning, and if care is exercised in chopping a good stand may lit- secured in 
nearly all parts of the infested fields. In the laboratory adult beetles placed upon 
young cotton plants readily left them and migrated to young cowpea plants near at 
hand. A decided preference for cowpeas i- indicated, and trap rows of cowpeas 
through the cotton fields might be efficient. 
LEAF-EATING CATERPILLARS. 
SALT-MARSH CATERPILLAR. 
[ Estigmene acraea Dru. Fig. L8 
This caterpillar is a common pest in cotton fields and often does 
considerable damage locally. A very satisfactory description of the 
different stages of the insect has been given by Doctor Hind- in his 
account of an outbreak in cotton at Victoria, Tex., so that the follow- 
ing note- will merely furnish further data toward a more complete 
knowledge of the life history. 
al904: Bui. 44. I>iv. Km., V . S. Dept Agric, p. so. 
