192 COTTON 



leaves under a thin web spun over the leaf. On 

 account of the fact that these worms are often 

 found on "careless weed" many farmers call them 

 "careless worms," and where the planter allows 

 these weeds to grow unchecked, these caterpil- 

 lars are always worse. When winter approaches 

 the caterpillar enters the ground as a larva, often 

 becoming a pupa. They emerge the following 

 spring. The female lays about 50 eggs, putting 

 them in several bunches on the leaves of the cotton, 

 and these eggs hatch in a few days. These first 

 caterpillars are miscellaneous feeders, attacking 

 alfalfa and various garden vegetables. The second 

 brood is injurious to cotton. In the far South 

 there are upwards of five or six broods a year. 



Clean cultivation is the most effective preven- 

 tive of the development of this pest. This will 

 destroy the weeds upon which they feed. Where 

 they have become destructive to cotton they may be 

 easily destroyed by dusting the plants with Paris 

 Green or some similar insecticide. 



VII. THE COTTON SQUARE BORER 



We have already considered the work of the cot- 

 ton boll worm and have learned how it bores holes 

 in the squares and bolls. We have learned the 

 appearance of the caterpillars and feel that we shall 

 know them every time we see them. When we go 

 through the cotton field, however, we may see an- 

 other insect doing Work similar to thaj; of the boll 

 worm, but clearly a different insect. It is a short, 

 thick caterpillar covered with hair, and has a uni- 

 formly green appearance. These insects are called 

 Cotton-square Borers. The mother of these 

 green, oval-shaped caterpillars is a dainty little 



