11 



by this species are cotton, corn, tomatoes, tobacco, and various garden 

 crops. 



Various names have been applied to this insect according to the 

 food plant or character of injury inflicted, the names " bud worm," 

 '• corn-ear worm," " tomato fruit-worm," etc., being variously applied. 

 The term " sharpshooter," being very loosely used, is quite often 

 applied to it. The exclusive use of the term " boUworm " should be 

 encouraged to prevent confusion, regardless of the food plant upon 

 which the insect is found. 



SEASONAL HISTORY. 



As has been stated, the winter is passed in the pupal stage in cells 

 formed in the ground for that purpose. In the spring the moths 

 emerge at a time varying considerably in different individuals and 

 latitudes. In southern Texas, in the latitude of Victoria, the majority 

 of the adults emerge early in April, and in northern Texas, in the lati- 

 tude of Paris, about the middle of May. At Dallas, Tex., the date 

 of the main emergence seems to be but little earlier than at Paris. Of 

 course the time of the first as well as the maximum appearance of 

 boUworm moths of the first generation depends largely upon the 

 spring temperatures. 



Soon after emergence in the spring the moths fly about to find 

 suitable places for egg deposition, the great majority of them ovi- 

 positing upon the leaves of the young field corn, which is usually 

 about 1 or 2 feet high at this time. Upon hatching, the young larvae 

 feed on the corn leaves, usually eating into the roll of tender leaves at 

 the growing tip. This produces the characteristic shot-holed appear- 

 ance in the leaves as they unfold. 



By the time the second generation of moths appears, the corn is 

 coming into silk and tassel and the eggs are deposited in numbers 

 on the silks and tassels, as well as upon the leaves. This is the most 

 destructive generation upon corn, the ears being largely attacked. 

 The larvae of this generation pupate about the time the ears begin to 

 harden, so that when the moths of the third generation appear, about 

 two weeks later, the corn ears are nearly all hard and consequently 

 unfit for food for the young larvae of the ensuing brood. Finding the 

 corn hard and dry the moths are attracted to adjacent cotton fields, 

 where most of the eggs are deposited; from these issues the destruc- 

 tive August generation of larvae, which is the main source of injury 

 to the cotton crop. Corn is by far the most preferred food of boll- 

 worms, hence if they can find late corn in the neighborhood the moths 

 oviposit upon it rather than upon cotton. 



Injury from the fourth generation is rarely serious, as the numbers 

 of this generation are greatly reduced by parasites and unfavorable 



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