PINK ■nOLL-WORM. 



93 



mollis to In'ood oaf ovpi liars wliicli attack tlio ontton in Auq-nst and 

 Scptomber. Expovlraonts avo in pvno'ress to usn bhindi as a trap crop in 

 or aronnd cotton, in tlio liopo of colU^cting' tlio insects in that crop wliicli 

 can then bo destroyed. The success obtained during' the past season 

 justifies the more extended trial of this measure. 



The Pink Boll=worm. 



Associated with the spotted boll-worms is a slender reddish caterpillar 



found feedino" in the 

 green or ripe bolls. 

 It is easily distin- 

 g'uished from the 

 other caterpillars 



found on cotton. 



The moth lays a 

 number of small flat- 

 tened eg-gs, similar to 

 those laid by the 

 majority of small 

 moths ; the eg-gs are 

 deposited sing-ly on 

 leaves, stalks and 

 bolls, and hatch in a 

 few days. 



The young- cater- 

 pillar is white, with 

 a dark head, and is 

 found feeding on the leaves or on the outside of the boll. It does not 

 immediately attack the boll but bores in through the rind when it has fed 

 for a few days outside. 



Like the spotted boll-worms this one feeds upon the oily seeds, eating 

 seed after seed until it has become full grown. As a rule one will be 

 found in a boll but exceptionally several attack the same boll. The full 

 grown larva is of a white colour, with bright pink spots, more slender 

 than the spotted boll-worms and without processes. The larval life varies 

 in duration according to the season but occupies two to three weeks in the 

 active period. The full grown larva forms a slight cocoon of silk, in the 

 boll or on the bracts or leaves of the cotton. In unirrigated black cotton 

 soil this may be found in a crack of the dry soil. The shortest period for 



'74. Gelechia goss ypiella. Sauod. (Tipeidse.) 



Fig. 104. 

 Phih BoU-ivorm. (Magnified.') 



