Dec. i 5 ,1925 Observations on a Cotton Insect New to the United States 1141 
The type of rearing cage finally adopted consisted of large lantern 
globes, covered with cheesecloth on top, and with their bases inserted 
about 1 inch in soil in large trays. This soil was kept constantly 
moist. The host plants provided were planted in the soil and addi¬ 
tional fruiting capsules were introduced into the cages when required 
for oviposition. This type of cage therefore provided a growing host 
plant, plenty of moist soil, and good ventilation through the cheese¬ 
cloth cover. Moreover, in searching for eggs, the area of search was 
confined to the space covered by the base of the globe, or a circle about 
4 inches in diameter, greatly simplifying the task of finding them. 
All rearing was done on Sida carpinifolia , the native host plant of 
the insect, but present plans include a series of rearing tests on cotton. 
NUMBER OF STAGES 
It has been found that there are seven stages in the development of 
the insect. These include the egg, five nymphal stages, and the 
adult stage, 
x THE EGG 
The eggs look very much like microscopic hens 7 eggs (fig. 1, A), 
being of about the same shape and similar in general proportions. 
They are about one twenty-fifth of an inch in length, and their 
greatest width, which is not exactly at the center of the egg, but 
slightly toward one end, is about two-thirds the length. When first 
deposited, the eggs are shiny, pearly-white, and semitransparent. 
As the incubation progresses they gradually turn a faint pink, and at 
the time of hatching are a light pinkish brown. 
DURATION OF THE EGG STAGE 
Up to the present 26 more or less exact incubation records have been 
obtained in the cages. It is difficult to make the incubation records 
with perfect accuracy owing to the female’s habit of placing the egg 
under the surface of the ground, which sometimes results in the egg 
being overlooked until the second day. This probably occurred in 
two cases of the 26 considered, since one record of three days and pne 
of four appeared too short in comparison with the average incubation 
period observed. 
The 26 incubation records gave an average incubation period of 
7.85 days. It should be taken into consideration, however, that life- 
history observations were not begun until after midsummer, and that 
a large proportion of these records were not secured until after cooler 
weather had arrived. In July and August, 5 records of 5 days 
each were obtained, as well as the two shorter records mentioned 
above. In September and October, 6 records of 6 days each were 
obtained, as well as 4 of 7 days, and several records of longer periods. 
On the other hand, in November and December the shortest incuba¬ 
tion period recorded was 12 days, and the longest 17 days. Evidently 
the incubation period is about 5 days in midsummer and lengthens 
very considerably as the weather becomes cooler. 
78383—26f-1 
