362 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Life History. The life history has not been carefully observed, 

 but it seems probable that the winter is passed in the pupa stage 

 in the old leaves, stumps and rubbish of the cabbage field. Sirrine 

 states that the life history is similar to that of the imported 

 cabbage worm, and it seems probable that there are three genera- 

 tions a year in the Middle States, and possibly more further 

 South. Injury to cabbage seems to be worse in late summer. 

 When full grown the larva spins a very thin, transparent, white 



FIG. 262. The cabbage looper (Autographa brassicce Riley): a, male moth; 

 b, egg from above and from side; c, full grown larva in natural position 

 feeding; d, pupa in cocoon a, c, d, one-third larger than natural size, 

 b, more enlarged. (A"ter Howard and Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



cocoon, attached to the leaf upon which it has been feeding and 

 in it transforms to the light-brown pupa. The pupal stage varies 

 from a week in midsummer to three weeks in October, and the 

 pupse of the last brood hibernate over winter. 



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

 wings are grayish brown mottled with gray, whitish, and blackish, 

 as shown in Figs. 262, 263. Just inside of the centre of the fore- 

 wings is a characteristic white spot. The hind-wings are paler 



