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Dysdercus sidae, Montr., in Queensland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

E. Ballard
Affiliation:
late Commonwealth Cotton Entomologist,
M. Gwen Evans
Affiliation:
Personal Assistant.

Extract

Like other species of its genus in different parts of the cotton-growing areas of the world, Dysdercus sidae is a serious pest of cotton, not as has been stated from staining the lint by its excrement or being crushed in the gins, but from being the agent by which internal boll-rot fungi enter the green cotton boll.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1928

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References

* Froggatt, J. L., Q'land Agric. Jl., xxi, p. 123.Google ScholarGurney, W. B., Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., xxxv, pt. 2, 02 1924.Google Scholar

Mumford, E. P., “ Cotton stainers and certain other sap-feeding insect pests of the cotton plant.”—Emp.Cotton Growing Corp., London, 1925.Google ScholarFroggatt, W. W., “ Insects of the Kurrajong.”—Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., 03 1905.Google ScholarFroggatt, W. W., “ Notes on Australian Hemiptera.”—Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., 12 1901.Google Scholar

Ballard, E. & Holdaway, F. G., “ The life-history of Tectocoris lineola.”—Bull. Ent. Res., xvi, pt. 4, 03 1926.Google ScholarBallard, E., “ Some of the causes of low grade cotton.”—Q'land Agric. Jl., 06 1925.Google ScholarBallard, E., “ Damage done to cotton seed by plant bugs.”—Q'land Agric. Jl., 08 1925.Google Scholar

* B. diversifolia, B. rupestris, and B. acerifolia.

* Nymphs fed on crude cotton seed oil developed up to the third instar and there stopped. Fourth instar nymphs which were given crude oil just after moulting did not develop, although they lived and were active. Their colouration was pale, as though they had only recently moulted.

* Nymphs are always busily running about on the ground or climbing up and down the plants, and are thus more likely to come upon traps than would adults.

* The smaller nymphs were usually the assassins, fourth instar nymphs attacking the fifth, or fifth and third instars attacking adults.

* Williams, C. B. & Kirkpatrick, T. W., “ A Multiple Temperature Incubator.”—Technical & Scientific Service Bulletin no. 38, Cairo, 1924.Google Scholar

* One or two exceptions to this were noted after this paper had been written, where nymphs from eggs kept at as high a temperature as development permitted completed their different stages at temperatures which normally would retard or kill.

This was not due to the spermatozoa being immobile, but to failure of the embryos to develop.

* [These Tachinidae have since been described by Mr. C. H. Curran as Alophora aureiventris Curr., and Catharosia varicolor, Curr. (Bull. Ent. Res., xviii, 1927, p. 165).—Ed.]

* Upwards of 1,000 nymphs collected to moult on one cage on a ¼-acre plot. In the rest of the field these fifth instars were comparatively rare. The cage was 6 ft. by 5 ft. by 5 ft.

Substances tried as bait and found useless. Tarpineol, trimethylamine, amyl acetate, citronella, cotton meal, cotton seed oil (crude and refined), and moisture.