December, ’20] FERRIS: INSECTS OF LOWER CALIFORNIA 
465 
never cultivated, among these being the “pitahayas,” the fruit of 
two species of cacti, which are held in high esteem. There are some 
cocoanuts, but the number is insignificant. 
The streams which come down from the mountains in every case 
sink into the sand as soon as the lowlands are reached, to reappear at 
some point from a few hundred yards to a few miles from the ocean. 
It is in the valleys of these streams, before they sink into the sand 
and after they rise from it (principally the latter), that all the agricul¬ 
ture is carried on. Irrigation from the natural flow of the streams is 
depended upon, and in but few places is any attempt made to pump 
water. 
Insects of Economic Importance 
It is probable that the most important insect in this area is a chinch 
bug, Blissus occiduus Barber (det. Van Duzee), which infests the sugar 
cane and corn. At the time of my visit it was not especially abundant, 
but I was informed that at times it takes as much as 20 per cent of 
the crop. In fact the unusually high price of “panocha” (the crude 
sugar that is universally used) then prevailing was ascribed to the 
reduction in the crop caused by its depredations. This species was 
originally described from Colorado, but as far as I am aware has not 
been noted as a pest in the United States. 
There is also on the corn and sugar cane a Tingid, determined by 
Mr. Carl J. Drake as Leptodictya tabida H. S., which is said materially 
to assist the chinch bug; and a Fulgorid, determined by Mr. Van Duzee 
as Perigrinus maidis (Ashmead), which apparently does no special 
damage. 
A species of red spider was found in great abundance on beans at 
San Bartolo, but unfortunately the bottle containing the specimens 
was lost. At the time of my visit the bean crop had for the most 
part been harvested and I saw but one small field. In this the spider 
had killed practically all the plants and I was told that at times it 
causes a total loss. 
In the field of cotton at the Eureka ranch some insect was working 
in the bolls. At the time of my visit it was too late to obtain speci¬ 
mens and only the work was found. Specimens of this work were 
forwarded to the Bureau of Entomology, and I am informed that it is 
a type of injury not before called to the attention of that office. 
The nature of this work is as follows: The larva of the insect (one 
of which was seen) mines in the husk of the boll, sometimes but a 
single compartment being affected. Occasionally it breaks through 
the inner epidermis of the husks and feeds upon, or at least marks, 
the cotton, but in no case had it fed upon the seeds. Nevertheless the 
