It is a short way of saying grown-up; and after this, when we mean a
grown-up insect, let us say an adult insect.
To return to the red bug. When it reaches the adult state, it is not
such a bright red, but rather of a reddish color with brownish wings
striped with light yellow.
Beside eating the juices of the cotton plants and thus injuring or even
killing them, the red bugs stain the white cotton and spoil it.
They are also troublesome in some parts of Florida, where they pierce
the skins of the oranges, and cause the fruit to decay.
[Illustration]