THE COTTON WORM OR COTTON CATERPILLAR. 7 



surface is a distinct black spot on the anterior wings just beyond 

 the middle and about one-third of the distance from the anterior to 

 the posterior margins. The front wings are also ornamented with a 

 number of transverse zigzag lines. The most conspicuous of these 

 are one which crosses the anterior half of the wing immediately be- 

 yond the eye spot and another which extends from just behind the 

 eye spot to the posterior margin. In specimens which have become 

 rubbed these transverse markings are sometimes indiscernible. 



The moth is nocturnal in its habits and has remarkable powers of 

 flight. This is shown by its crossing the Gulf of Mexico and reaching 

 localities in the northern United States and Canada. 



Unlike the great majority of moths the proboscis of this species is 

 strengthened, so that it can puncture such substances as gi'een pears 

 or apples. In 1911 and various earlier years in which invasions of 

 northern localities took place the damage to fruit in some cases was 

 considerable. 



PASSING THE WINTER. 



Whenever the cotton worm passes the winter in the United States 

 it is in the adult stage. In tliis it is unlike the boll worm and other 

 species, which pass the winter in the pupal stage in the ground. 



The question of whether the cotton moth hibernates normally in 

 the United States is one that was discussed at great length by entomol- 

 ogists and planters in former years. The early records and recent 

 observations all seem to bear out the belief that the insect is in no 

 sense a member of the North American fauna, and that it can survive 

 the winter in tliis country only when the temperatures are favorable. 

 In fact, there is only one authentic record of the moths surviving the 

 winter in this country. This was the winter of 1881-82, which was 

 unusually mild. During that ^\^nter live moths were found in the 

 vicinity of Archer, Fla., during every month of the winter up to March, 

 and young larvae were found at work on volunteer cotton at the end 

 of that month. 



CONTROL. 



The control of the cotton caterpUlar is not at all difficult. The 

 methods to be described are simi)le and inexpensive. Consequently 

 there is no reason why every planter should not check the damage at 

 the beginning. 



By far the best method of control is by the use of powdered arsenate 

 of lead. This substance has several decided advantages over any 

 other poisons that could be used. It does not injure the foliage to any 

 extent whatever, and adheres to the leaves in spite of considerable 

 rainfall. In both these respects it is much to be preferred to Paris 

 green, which is likely to injure the foliage and which does not adhere 

 to the leaves well except when mixed with flour. 



