The Bulletin. 



29 



THE CABBAGE LOOPER. 



(Autographa hrassicw.) 



Order Lepidoptera, Family Noctuidw. 



Description. — A pale-green worm, measuring when grown about one 

 and one-half inches long, more or less distinctly striped, which lies 

 upon the leaf in a humped-up position, and crawls with a looping 

 motion. 



Fig. 11 — Caterpillar (or larva) of the Cabbage Looper, on cabbage leaf. 

 Natural size. (Drawing by Z. P. Metcalf.) 



Injuries. — This is the second, or possibly the first, in importance 

 among the ''cabbage worms" in North Carolina. Often it is very 

 numerous on cabbage and collards, more especially in late summer and 

 fall. 



Adult Insect. — The adult parent insect of the cabbage looper is a 

 dull-gray moth, whose wings spread about one to one and one-half inches 

 from tip to tip. The adult moth flies most actively at dusk or on dull 

 days, and is often found on goldenrod in early fall. It is not a conspic- 

 uous day-flying insect like the parent of the imported cabbage worm. 



Life History, etc. — The cabbage looper is found in practically all 

 parts of the United States and Canada. The caterpillar, or "worm" 

 attacks all the crops of the cabbage family, including cabbage, collards. 



Fig. 12. — Pupa of Cabbage Looper, shown in cocoon on leaf, and separate 

 from leaf. Natural size. (Drawing by Z. P. Metcalf.) 



turnip, cauliflower, rutabaga, etc. The adult moth lays the eggs on the 

 leaves and these hatch to the "worm," which feeds greedily on the leaf. 

 The caterpillar remains in a humped position and crawls with a loop- 

 ing motion, like the insects commonly called "measuring worms." 



