32 The Bulletin. 



When the caterpillar becomes full grown (which requires about 

 two weeks) it turns to the condition known as the "pupa" or 

 "chrysalis," usually attached to the under surface of a slightly 

 folded leaf, by a very slightly spun cocoon. The pupa stage oc- 

 cupies from one to four weeks, depending on climatic conditions, and 

 then the adult moth (as shown in Fig. 9) bursts out of the brown 

 pupa shell, and after drying and stretching its wings is ready to 

 begin its Hying life. The adult moth flies chiefly at night, but when 

 present in the field in large numbers may lie flushed from the plants 

 in daytime. 



Since the Cotton Worm appears in destructive numbers with us 

 only late in the season and confines itself principally to the late tender 

 growth, it probably does not do nearly so much harm as is generally 

 thought, for most of the late foliage and bolls are killed by frost 

 before they mature, so that even when there is no outbreak of these 

 worms the "top crop" is often of no value. That they do destroy the 

 late growth in great quantities is not to be denied and no grower 

 wishes to see the vegetation of his crops ruined by an insect enemy. 

 But in this case there is at least some consolation in the fact that 

 the injury usually is not in reality so bad as it appears. Even in 

 the more southern States, where the late too crop is more often 

 harvested and where it is of more account, the Cotton Worm is not 

 now regarded so seriously as in former years, when it was the cause 

 of much alarm. 



Natural Enemies. — As the caterpillars of this insect are of good 

 size, and feed openly and exposed on the cotton foliage, they are 

 freely subject to the attacks of natural enemies which easily find them. 

 When a worm falls to the ground it may be overcome by ant-, and 

 there can be no doubt that many are also eaten by insectivorous birds. 

 There are also numerous parasites which infest the bodies of the 

 caterpillars and cause their death. In years when only a few of the 

 moths come to us from the south these natural enemies no doubt act 

 strongly to keep them under control, but in other years (like 1005) 

 where local conditions are favorable and where a considerable number 

 of the insects become established, they get beyond the control* of their 

 natural enemies and are then recognized as seriously destructive. 

 It is interesting for the farmer to know that every year there is a 

 silent host of natural enemies at work in his behalf, not only subduing 

 tlii< pest, but many others on all kinds of crops. While he can do 

 but little to aid or multiply these friendly little creatures, he may 

 at least be thankful that nature provides such a means of protec- 

 tion. 



Summary. — The Cotton Worm is the larva or caterpillar of a moth, 

 and is sometimes destructive to the late top growth of cotton. It 

 seems probable that the flying moths invade this State from the south 

 in years when they are destructive. There are several broods each 

 year, but only the later broods attract attention. It is attacked by 

 a number of natural enemies. 



