% 
molt. At first the larva is pale yellow in color, soon becoming greenish. 
The dark spots become more or less conspicuous after the first molt, 
and the characteristic markings, as shown in the figure, make their 
first appearance. After the second molt these markings become more 
conspicuous, and the insect takes on a 
distinctly greenish color, the black along 
the back varying among different individ- 
uals in its intensity. Before reaching full 
growth the caterpillar sheds its skin five 
times, and the duration of the caterpillar 
stage is from one to three weeks. arly 
in the season the green color appears to 

Fie. 1—Egg of cotton worm moth: ‘ é 
au he Sis eeea predominate, while toward the fall the 
enlarged (from Fourth Rept. U- 8. blackish caterpillars are more abundant, 
Entom. Comm.). 
although at any time during the season 
green and dark worms are seen together. Although the normal food of 
the caterpillar is the leaves, it will frequently gnaw the tender twigs 
and will even damage the bells by eating into them in spots. This, how- 
ever, generally occurs only when the worms are present in exceptional 
numbers and the supply of leaves becomes 
exhausted. We have referred to the fact 
that the caterpillar is a looper, i. e., that it 
walks by bringing its hind prop legs up to 
the true legs, causing its back to arch up in 
aloop. Like the true loopers, or measuring 
worms, it has the habit of jerking itself 
some little distance when disturbed, and 
when it falls it usually supports itself by a 
Silken thread. It is something of a ean- 
nibal, and when other food fails, or even 
rarely when leaves are abundant, it will feed 
upon smaller and feebler individuals of its 
own kind. In spite of its comparatively 
small size and slender form, this larva is, 
in fact, very voracious, and when occurring 
in numbers the ruin which it accomplishes 
is complete. 
The chrysalis or pupa.—The caterpillar, 
having become full grown, never enters : 
Fria. 2.—Cotton caterpillar: a, from 
the ground to transform, although many side, b, from above—twice natural 
planters have believed that this is the man- size (from Fourth Rept. U. 8. En- 
ner in which the insect passes the winter. ‘™°’™™?: 
It spins a light silken web, forming an imperfect cocoon, usually within 
a folded leaf. It is frequently seen hanging quite naked upon the 
plant, but in such cases the leaf in which it was originally spun has 
been eaten away by other caterpillars. Its color is at first green, but 















