PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON AN INSECT OF THE 
COTTON STAINER GROUP NEW TO THE UNITED STATES 1 
By T. C. Barber 
Assistant Entomologist, Southern Field-Crop Insect Investigations, Bureau of 
Entomology , United States Department of Agriculture 
> 
INTRODUCTION 
During the past year Dysdercus obscuratus Distant, 2 an insect of 
the cotton stainer group not hitherto recorded in the United States, 
has been found in a number of cotton fields in the lower Rio Grande 
Valley of Texas, as well as in cotton fields in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on 
the opposite side of the Rio Grande. Although no injury of note has 
as yet been observed which can be attributed to the attacks of this 
insect, several closely related species have long been recognized as 
very serious cotton pests in different parts oi the world. It was 
therefore considered advisable to obtain as much preliminary informa¬ 
tion as possible concerning the life history and habits of this species. 
OBSERVATIONS ON DYSDERCUS OBSCURATUS AT BROWNS¬ 
VILLE, TEX. 
The first specimens of this species collected in the United States 
were found by the writer near Brownsville, Tex., in July, 1922. 
They were fairly numerous, and a note made at the time of collection 
stated that they “were common on grass and weeds near Browns¬ 
ville.” Although some were seen in cotton fields, they could be found 
more easily in a number of places quite distant from cotton, and the 
writer gained the impression that the species was mainly a nectar 
feeder. In June, 1923, H. C. Millenaer and F. F. Bibby, field 
inspectors for the Federal Horticultural Board, collected numerous 
specimens of the insect in cotton fields in the vicinity of Matamoros, 
Mexico. These collections first directed attention to the possible 
economic importance of the insect. 
PRESENT KNOWN RANGE OF THE SPECIES IN AMERICA 
From information furnished by W. L. McAtee, this insect has 
previously been collected from Central America and Mexico, in the 
following localities: San Geronimo, San Juan, Guatemala; Cache, 
Costa Rica; Atoyac in Vera Cruz, Teapa in Tabasco, Mexico. 
In addition, T. E. Holloway and the writer collected specimens at 
Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in March, 1922, and the writer has 
recently (November, 1923) collected specimens from Tampico, 
Tamaulipas. 
It may be remarked that specimens of three additional species of 
the cotton stainer genus have been collected by the writer in the 
Brownsville section, namely, Dysdercus concinnus Stal, D . mimus 
1 Received for publication Apr. 27,1925; issued December, 1925. 
2 Determined by W. L. McAtee, of the Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Washington, D. C. 
( 1137 ) 
Vol. XXXI, No. 12 
Dec. 15,1925 
Key No. K-154 
