14 
the spring earlier than usual. In Arkansas four or five generations 
are found in the northern and southern portions of the State, while in 
southern Texas six generations and a partial seventh seems to be the 
rule. The determination of the time of the appearance of the several 
generations of moths for each differing locality is of very considerable 
importance, and can only be made by local observers. It is of impor- 
tance in arranging for the trap-crop method of protecting cotton, which 
will be discussed under the head of remedies. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
The bollworm has by no means as many natural enemies as the cot- 
ton caterpillar. The latter insect feeds exposed upon the leaves, and is 
therefore subject to the attacks of predaceous and parasitic insects, 
as well as birds. The bollworm, however, as a general thing, feeding 
in the interior of the cotton boll, orear of corn, or fruit of tomato, or 
pea or bean pod, is not readily found. In fact, although birds have 
been noticed to feed upon it, it was long considered to be absolutely 
free from true parasites. Riley, however, bred a Tachina fly from the 
larva, and Hubbard reared the little egg parasite Trichogramma preti- 
osa from the bollworm eggs in Florida. The more recent investigations 
of Mally have resulted in finding four additional parasites. One of 
these is an egg parasite of the genus Telenomus. Another is a species 
of Limneria, while the other two are the common Huplectrus comstockii 
How. and Chalcis ovata Say, which are such abundant parasites of the 
cotton worm. The hairy or downy woodpeckers are frequent visitors 
of cornfields and have been seen to extract the worms from infested 
ears. 
REMEDIES. 
Tights for trapping moths.—This is one of the remedies which nave 
been most often advised, and has been very extensively used in parts 
of the South, particularly in Texas. In view of this fact, Mally, during 
his two summers’ investigations, made extensive experiments with trap 
lights for the moths. He has carefully tabulated all the insects which 
were captured in this way. A few bollworm moths were caught, but 
these apparently by accident, and a thoroughly unprejudiced conelu- 
sion from his experiments must be that the use of lights for attracting 
and trapping bollworm moths is without beneficial result. The other 
insects caught by the light were found to be about evenly divided 
between those which are beneficial and those considered injurious; but 
most of the insects called injurious are of no especial economic impor- 
tance in the cotton region and should be omitted from consideration in 
forming conclusions. The use of lights, from the cotton-grower’s stand- 
point, is really a disadvantage, and money expended in this practice 
is without doubt entirely lost. 
Poisoned sweets.—Together with the use of lanterns for attracting 
the moths, poisoned sweets have been recommended for many years. 
