REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS ON THE 
COTTON WORM (ALETIA XYLINA).* 
By PROFESSOR R. W. JONES. 
OXFORD, MIss., January 11, 1883. 
Sir: The spring of 1882 was not favorable for the early planting of 
cotton. Cold, wet weather delayed the work of farmers very generally. 
When the plant came up, it seemed to display less vigor than usual, 
grew slowly, and early in the season it suffered much from the Cotton 
Louse (Aphis). It was, therefore, later than usual when it attained its 
full growth and commenced fruiting. The autumn, however, was favor- 
able. There was nothing to interfere with the growth or to arrest the 
fruiting until November 13, when the thermometer fell to 37°, and the 
night of the 14th it went down to 28° F. This qualification of the above 
statement should be made, viz: that from the 19th to the 21st of Octo- 
ber, inclusive, the nights were cool, the thermometer falling on the 21st 
October to 46° F.; but vegetation was unhurt, and whilst the worms 
seemed somewhat chilled early in the morning they did not fall from 
the plant, and as the sun warmed the earth and air they resumed their 
activity. 
In October we had the unusual phenomenon of the leaves finishing 
their growth, thickening, withering and falling, without having been 
touched by frost. They seemed to fade, to become sear, and to die 
simply because they were no more able to perform their function. Their 
work was done. Quickly new buds, leaves and stems were put forth, 
and on this second growth of tender leaves there was a large brood of 
Aphides, differing in appearance much from those in spring. The color 
was dark, the legs long and black. These Aphides, as well as those in 
spring, were attended by immense numbers of ants. 
In the spring and throughout the summer the ants were mostly the 
small red ant, known as the house ant, Myrmica molesta; there were a 
few black ants a little larger than the red. 
In the fal), on these new leaves, and attending the dark-colored 
Aphides, were three varieties: (1) The small red. (2) A black ant twice 
the length of the red. (3) A brown ant nearly thrice the length of the 
red, with an abdomen more enlarged and rounded than usual, and ex- 
hibiting clear spots. 
* Professor Jones was instructed to continue experiments with insecticides upon the Cotton Worm , 
and to report in addition upon: 
1. The real influence of ants upon the Cotton Worm. 
2. Work of other enemies of the Cotton Worm. 
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