THE EARLY BROODS. 307 



THE NUMBER OF BROODS. 



The chrysalis of the boll- worm usually gives forth the perfect moth in 

 early May in the more southern portions of the cotton-belt. The eggs 

 of these first moths are for the most part laid on the leaves of corn, 

 though occasionally one is deposited upon the just-appearing cotton 

 plant, and others are laid upon the other food-plants to be found. By 

 far the greater majority are laid upon the corn leaves j and it is a rare 

 occurrence to find a boll- worm upon cotton in the months of May and 

 June. The individuals of this first brood of HeliotMs upon corn are 

 called, in many parts of the South, " terminal bud worms," the reason 

 for which will shortly be shown. 



The newly hatched larvae begin feeding at once upon the corn leaves 

 upon which they were born, and gnaw many small irregular holes 

 through them, giving them the appearance of having been riddled by a 

 charge of small shot. Upon these external leaves of corn they may be 

 found for some time, specimens upwards of half of an inch in length 

 having been collected May 21. As they increase in size they progress 

 downward into the closely folded leaf and, sooner or later, reach the 

 tender terminal leaves or bud, where they do a very destructive work. 



The plants thus infested may be readily recognized by the riddled ap- 

 pearance of the larger leaves. When such a stalk is found, if the leaves, 

 beginning with the outermost, be stripped oft' nearly to the bases of their 

 sheaths, a quantity of brown, dry excrement will be found, increasing 

 in quantity as the center of the plant is approached, until at last the 

 usually pale green worm is reached, either within the sheath of a leaf 

 or in a cavity eaten into the closely rolled terminal leaves. When full 

 grown, it gnaws a circular hole through the leaves directly outwards 

 from the point where it has been feeding and falls to the ground, where 

 it transforms to a chrysalis, as before described. 



It is difficult to estimate the usual* amount of damage done by the 

 first brood, as it differs so much in different localities. It seems, how- 

 ever, never to be alarmingly great, on account of the comparatively 

 small numbers. Observations on a small scale in Alabama showed 

 about one plant in forty to be infested by them. 



The second brood makes its appearance in Alabama from the first to 

 the middle of June. The eggs are, as before, for the most part laid upon 

 the corn leaves. Some few are laid upon cotton more, usually, than is 

 the case with the first brood. The young larvae feed upon the leaves as 

 before and upon the tassels. As they approach full growth they are 

 found within the young ears, feeding upon the silk, the milky kernels as 

 fast as they appear, and upon the tender cob. Upon reaching full size 

 they bore through the shuck and fall to the ground. The moths of this 

 second brood may be seen flying in considerable numbers in the early 

 part of July. 



It is the next, the third brood proper, which does most damage to 



