Dec. i5, 1925 Observations on a Cotton Insect New to the United States 1139 
several years agent of the Department of Agriculture for the county 
of Cameron, Tex. Mr. Richardson reported that during the cotton¬ 
growing season of 1923 a machine which he was using in his cotton 
fields for catching boll weevils picked up more of /these cotton stainers 
than any other kind of insect. At the same tim&he harvested a crop 
of 22 bales of cotton from 25 acres of land and ho perceptible staining 
of the lint was observed. This would indicate that no particular 
damage was inflicted upon the cotton, despite the numbers of the 
insect present, and it also tends to confirm the theory that the species 
feeds mainly upon the secretions of the nectary glands. 
Although immature stages of the insect have been observed feeding 
within decaying cotton bolls on the plants, the adults have never 
been seen attacking a living boll, and no indications of injury have 
been observed upon the plants. The adults evidently rove at will, and 
gather in considerable numbers upon many different plants, especially 
upon those which, like the cotton plant, flower continuously. These 
insects seem to be essentially nectar-feeding. However, the fact 
should not be lost sight of that there are several closely related 
species which are important enemies of cotton. 
The cotton-growing industry of the Rio Grande Valley is increasing 
rapidly, thousands of additional acres, mostly on freshly cleared 
land, being planted annually. The area maintaining the native host 
plants of the stainer is therefore being continually reduced. This is 
probably one of the main reasons for the sudden appearance of the 
insect in the cotton fields, vast numbers being forced to seek new 
food plants and new breeding territory. It is distinctly possible, 
therefore, that as this process is continued other host plants may be 
attacked. Since the* genus in general has shown a marked preference 
for plants of the order Malvaceae, and since the natural host plants 
are being so largely displaced by the wholesale planting of cotton, it 
is reasonable to assume that the insects will be gradually driven into 
the cotton fields. 
POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE SPREAD 
With the information now available, the future advance of this 
insect can be only conjectural. The species has not yet been found 
beyond the limits of its main host plant, Sida carpinifolia. According 
to present information, its occurrence upon cotton and other plants 
of economic importance can be considered as more or less incidental 
to the wandering of the individuals in search of food. Unless the 
species should definitely transfer its breeding habits to other plants 
of economic importance, it now appears probable that its distribu¬ 
tion will be mainly coincidental with the territory occupied by its 
principal host plant, but no definite prediction can be made. 
STUDIES OF THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE INSECT 
At the outset of work on the life history of the insect it was 
found difficult to rear the nymphs through the adult stage. After 
seven types of rearing cages had been tested and conditions gradually 
adapted to the requirements of the insects, much better results were 
obtained. Mating cages can now be stocked from the supply of 
insectary-reared adults. This could not be done when it was neces¬ 
sary to rely for breeding material on adults collected in the field. 
