172 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Diamond-back Moth {Plutella maculicollis) . 



Fig. 20. 



-Cabbage-looper, after J. B. Smith, State Exp. 

 Station of New Jersey. 



A ver}^ small green larva or "worm" often works on the leaves of 

 plants of the cabbage family, a worm exceedingly active when disturbed, 

 one that will wriggle all over the hand in its e!Tnii« to escai^e when 

 captured. Oft-times it lets '' 



itself down out of harm's 

 way by spinning a silken 

 thread from which it hangs 

 suspended. The length of 

 this little pest is about one- 

 third of an inch. 



When numerous these 

 larvae eat holes in the leaves 

 of the plants to such an ex- 

 tent as to disfigure the 

 I)lants very appreciably. 

 They eat the soft tissue from 

 one surface of the leaf, leav- 

 ing the exposed remnant to 

 dry and fall out. When full 

 grown, each larva constructs 

 a beautiful little cocoon of 

 white silk. Lace like in tex- 

 ture, it consists of gauzy 



open work, and inside may be seen the pupa, awaiting the time when 

 the final transformation to the adult stage is to be made. 



The moth may often 

 quieth' 

 the larvae. When 

 disturbed, it darts away 

 to some concealment. It 

 is about one-third of an 

 inch in length, and in 

 general, is ash colored. 

 There is a Avliite stripe on 

 the hind-margin of each 

 front-wing, and these two 

 white stripes lie together 

 when the wings are 

 closed, making a conspic- 

 uous white dorsal stripe 

 bordered with darker on 

 each side. The wings are 

 folded roof-wise over the back, with an abrupt elevation at the posterior 

 end. There are several generations each year. The same remedies that 

 are used against the cabbage-worms will keep this little moth in subjec- 

 tion. 



Cabbage Flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata). 



Like all of the flea-beetles, the cabbage flea-beetle is small and incon- 

 spicuous, though very active, jumping long distances when disturbed. 

 It is less than one-tenth of an inch in length, black in color, with a well- 



\ 



be seen sitting 

 among 



/ 



Fig. 21. — Diamond-back moth, enlarged. Original. 



