OTHER WORMS, INSECTS, ETC., MISTAKEN FOR THE CABBAGE WORM. 



Numbers of hair-worms other than Merwh albicans, the larvae of sciarid 

 flies, and some species of myriopods, as also angleworms, have been 

 received as undoubted cabl)age snakes or as suspects. In fact, gullible 

 people throughout the affected region have literally gone " hunting for 

 trouble" and have sent everything conceivable except the true cabbage 

 worms (caterpillars of moths and butterflies), which are altogether too 

 well known, as suspected "cabbage snakes." Some of these, all, with 

 the possible exception of the mj'riopods and sciarids, of accidental 

 occurrence on cabbage, will be mentioned. 



Merinis spp.— Various species of Merniis, related to (dhicans but differing in 

 various particulars, have been received witli the usual reports of poisonousness. 

 One species of hair-worm, resembling the "cabbage snake" and possibly the 

 same species, was received from St. Clara, W. Va., in March, 1905, which 

 measured nearly 2 feet in length (22 inches) when uncoiled. 



Paragordins varhis, a suspect, was not found in cabbage but in water "with- 

 out visible means of support," in Virginia. 



Gcophilufi spp. — Numbers of myriopods of the order Chilopoda, which includes 

 the centipedes and millipedes, were among this number, nearlj' all belonging to 

 the genus Geophilus. There appear to be no positive records of any forms of 

 these creatures found in the United States inflicting serious injury to man, but 

 certain tropical forms are decidedly venomous. These creatures sometimes 

 attack man, if accidentally handled, but they are not known to occur in cab- 

 bage. The poisonous species are large and conspicuous, and therefore not liable 

 to be eaten with food. The species of this genus have carnivorous habits, and 

 there is a possibility that they may destroy some forms of cabbage worms and 

 hence may be beneficial. 



Eartliuorms. — Specimens of earthworms, in bad condition so that identification 

 was impossible, were received from West Virginia and Ohio, where they were 

 mistaken for the cabbage hair-worm. 



Sciarids. — The larvae of sciarid flies were received in several instances from 

 August until October, 1904, chiefly from Tennessee, Virginia, and South Caro- 

 lina. A correspondent at Duflield, Va., pronounced these maggots poisonous, 

 and said that death had resulted from the use of cooked cabbage in which they 

 had been found. A correspondent at Yokum, Ky., made a similar report. 



HAIR-WORMS POSITIVELY NOT POISONOUS. 



In spite of repeated published and written statements that the so- 

 called cabbage snake is not poisonous, this fact has not been given very 

 general credence, hence the matter is still imperfectly understood by 

 man5\ As it is an established fact that none of the hair-worms possess 

 poisonous properties, it was not considered necessarj' to make an}' analj'- 

 ses or experiments at this Department to demonstrate their nontoxic 

 quality. However, Dr. Louis Leroy, Nashville, Tenn., who corresponded 

 with this office on this topic during August and September, 1904, under- 

 took to demonstrate beyond peradventure of doubt that the hair-worm 

 could not possibb' cause harm to persons eating it or caljbage on which 

 it had occurred, and, although he has already published on the subject 



