Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
In May, 1933, my attention was drawn to a peculiar leaf injury to young cotton plants at Presidio, Texas. The leaves showed a striking reddish brown spotting from the upper side that at first glance resembled red-spider injury. The damaged plants were quite localized in one section of a large cotton field. Examinaion revealed the presence of large numbers of lace bugs present on the lower surface of the leaves. This species was identified as Gargaphia iridescens Champion by H. G Barber of the U. S. National Museum. Gibson, 1919, records the food plants as Ambrosia, Solanum, Malva, and sand nettle. According to records in the U. S. National Museum, this species has been collected by McMillan at Brownsville, Texas, on Solanum, string beans, and Ambrosia; on egg plant at Olmito, Texas, by McMillan; on Croton texanus at Tucson, Arizona, by W. D. Pierce.
1. Leonard, M. D., and Mills, A. S. Observations on the bean lace-bug in Porto Rico. Jr. Dept. Agric. Puerto Rico XV. July 1931.
2. Wilson, C. E., 1923. Insect pests of cotton in St. Croix and means of combatting them. Bul. 3. Vingin Is. Exp. Sta. p. 9.