18 



FARMERS' BULLETIN 890. 

 BOLLWORM.i 



The well-known bollworm (figs. 19, 20) is called the com ear- 

 worm when it attacks the ears of com. It is likewise a pest of 

 tomatoes, tobacco, beans, and alfalfa. The eggs are laid singly. 

 The larva? bore into the squares and bolls and eat out the ulterior, 

 usually leaving l)y another hole and going to another square or boll. 



Fig. 19.— T?oll\vorm: a, Moth, or adult; b, larva, or worm: d, pupa. 

 Al)Out natural size. (Howard.) 



Thus a single worm during its development may injure all the forms 

 on several branches. \Mien full grown, it enters the ground for pu- 

 pation, emerging in about two weeks as a moth. The bollworms 

 pass the winter as pupa' in the soil. 



Thorough plowing of the lantl during tlie fall and winter and fre- 

 quent cultivation of the growing crop will destroy many l)ollworm 

 puj)*^ and expose others to the action of rain and frost, sunshine, and 

 insect enemies, and to insect-eating birds and rodents. In combat- 

 ting the boUworm as well as tlie weevil an early crop is necessary. 

 If its attack is very serious, poisoning with powdered arsenate of lead 

 by the pole-and-bag method, described under "Southern grass worm," 

 p. 8, is to be recommended. 



^Heliothis) Chloridea obsoleta Hiibii. 



