242 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



The moth has a wing expanse of about 1J inches, the fore- 

 wings being a dark, rich, velvety brown, marked with black, 

 yellow and ochreous as shown in the illustration, while the hind- 

 wings are a light gray. The grown caterpillar is 1J to if inches 

 long, and is quite variable in coloration, some being much darker 

 than others, as shown in the illustration. The three whitish 

 lines and the double row of triangular brown spots along the back 

 of the lighter forms will easily distinguish this caterpillar from 

 the boll worm.* 



a b 



FIG. 205. The cotton-boll cutworm (Prodenia ornithogalli Guen.): dark 

 form of male moth above; pale form, female moth below; a, pale form 

 of larva; 6, dark form of larva; c, -lateral view of abdominal segments of 

 pale form; d, same of dark form. (After Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



Life History. The life history has not been carefully observed 

 in the North, but from observations made by the writer in Texas 

 the life history in the Gulf States seems to be as follows: 



The winter is usually passed in the pupal stage in the soil, 

 though possibly a few moths, emerging late, hibernate. The 

 first brood of moths appears from the middle of May until the 

 middle of June, mostly early in June. A second brood appears 

 during the latter half of July, and a third late in August and dur- 

 ing September. A few of the fourth brood may emerge in Decem- 

 ber, but most of them do not do so until the very early spring, 

 when they lay eggs upon various weeds on which the larvae feed 



* See Chittenden, I.e., p. 36, for distinguishing characters of related species 

 of Prodenia. * 



