10 Farmers’ Bulletin 1206. 
humps are known as tubercles and give the caterpillar a spotted ap- 
pearance even when young but more so when almost full grown. As 
the caterpillar grows the skin is shed periodically, usually every two 
to four days. This shedding of the skin is known as molting. The 
‘aterpillar molts at least five times, sometimes more. When full 
grown it is about 1$ inches long. After every molt the cater- 
pillar takes on a new color pattern, quite different from the preced- 
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Fic. 7.—Pupa of corn earworm in its burrow in the soil. (Copied from Quaintance 
and Brues.) 
ing one. Full-grown caterpillars vary greatly in color; in fact, if 
individuals showing extremes in color were selected, the average per- 
son would not recognize them as belonging to the same species. The 
color varies from a pale green to a very dark brown, almost black. 
Between these extremes are many shades and combinations of colors. 
Some have beautiful stripes or bands of yellow on the sides and 
almost black or olive on the back. 
Caterpillars when feeding on foliage such as vetch show a some- 
what darker color pattern than when feeding on corn ears or in cot- 
