FIELD CROP INSECTS 



257 



several alternate rows of Mexican June corn and cow-peas, 

 in strips, through the cotton, so that the corn will be in silk 

 about the first of August when the moths of the third gener- 

 ation are laying their eggs. They will be attracted to lay on 

 the corn in preference to the cotton and the cow-peas will 

 furnish them both food and shelter. As soon as the worms 

 become fairly grown, the corn and cow-peas should be cut 

 and fed to stock, and the land plowed to destroy any which 

 may have pupated. Planting small areas of corn and cow- 

 peas here and there on large plantations will have much the 

 same effect. They may follow early crops such as potatoes, 

 oats or wheat. 



143. The Cotton Worm.* The cotton worm (19) is the 

 most serious insect pest of cotton foliage and prior to the 

 advent of the boll weevil was the 

 worst enemy of the cotton plant. 

 When very abundant these hungry 

 caterpillars will strip the foliage 

 over considerable areas in a few 

 days and will eat the buds and 

 even attack the twigs so that only 

 prompt action will save the crop. 

 Fortunately the worst damage is 

 usually not done until early fall, 

 and inasmuch as only early cot- 

 ton can be grown wherever the 

 boll weevil occurs and no effort 

 is made to secure a late or 

 "top-crop," the real injury by 

 the cotton worms, in the boll 

 weevil region, is not as serious as formerly. 



During the winter months the adult moths hibernate in 

 * Alabama argillacea Hubn. Family Noctuidce. 



FIG. 181. Cotton worm 

 moths, natural size. 

 (Photo by Dr. W. E. 

 Hinds.) 



