ECONOMIC ZOOLOGl- — ENTOMOLOGY. 557 



careful searches for the moths made in favorable localities in the southern part 

 of the cotton belt during the past winter and extending from Brownsville, Tex., 

 to South Carolina, no live moths were found. Chrysalids of che moth placed 

 in rearing cages at Victoria, Tex., in the fall of 1911 were all killed by cold 

 by the end of Januar}\ Thus all the information obtainable led to the conclu- 

 sion that an outbreak in 1912 would be dependent upon a reinvasion of the 

 United States from some southern locality. 



" For the control of the cotton worm the use of powdered arsenate of lead at 

 the rate of 2 lbs. per acre is advised above all other means. This substance 

 does not need to be mixed with any other material. Paris green, if used, should 

 be mixed with lime and flour as described." 



Descriptions of the stages of the cotton moth are included. 



The evergreen bagworm, L. Haseman {Missouri Sta. Bui. lOJ^, pp. 309-330, 

 figs. 16). — The general distribution over the State, its wide selection of food 

 plants, and the destructive nature of its work has led the author to consider 

 the bagworm as probably the most troublesome insect pest attacking the foliage 

 of trees in Missouri at the present time. While it has always been more or less 

 destructive to evergreens, during the last few years it has become extremely 

 destructive to many deciduous trees and shrubs and other plants. Large areas 

 of bearing orchards are said to have been destroyed, seemingly by one de- 

 foliation. Although primarily a foliage ])est, it has been known to feed upon 

 developing fruit. 



The original home of this native insect was in the South, where it is still 

 most abundant. In its gradual northward spread, it has tended to follow river 

 courses and the coast, this following of river courses being especially notice- 

 able iu its distribution in Missouri. " The pest is most abundant and destruc- 

 tive in the western half of the Stnte, especially in the southwestern counties 

 and along the courses of the Missouri and Osage rivers. In St. Joseph, Kansas 

 City, and St. Louis it is extremely troublesome upon shade and ornamental 

 trees. Throughout most of the northeastern and southeastern portions of the 

 State it does little damage except in restricted regions. It is most abundant 

 in cities and low bottom lands. In the cities its natural enemies are less numer- 

 ous and the food supply is readily accessible, while in the bottom lands such 

 food plants as willows grow in great profusion and the streams assist in its 

 distribution. From the bottom lands it gradually migrates to the uplands, 

 where it feeds largely upon ornamental, shade, and fruit trees." Over most of 

 the area in which the bagworm is found, it appears in sudden outbreaks, being 

 destructive for a year or two and then decreasing as its enemies gain the upper 

 hand. In the orchard it is especially destructive to apple and plum, although 

 it is found on the cherry, i>ear, quince, and peach. In the absence of its choice 

 food plants, it will feed freely upon clover, ragweed, parsley, surge, and 

 nightshade. 



Studies made of its life history and habits are reported. The winter is 

 passed in the egg stage inside the female bags. In the latitude of central 

 Missouri the second week in May is the normal time for the first appearance of 

 the larvae outdoors. There is a great variation in the rate of its growth, it 

 being not uncommon to find newly hatched, half-grown, and full-grown cater- 

 pillars on the same tree and frequently some caterpillars will be found full- 

 grown before others of the same brood are half-grown. Although it has pre- 

 viously been reported to pass through 4 larval stages, the author's observations 

 indicate that there are 5, the additional 1 coming soon after hatching. In 

 observations of a colony the author found the first adult males to appear from 

 August 15 to 20, and to be quite abundant and mating from September 5 to 12. 

 Two weeks later the bags were found filled with eggs. 



