BOLL-WOllM. 



91 



troying the fruits or the succulent stems, 

 are active throughout the winter, where 

 the temperature does not fall so low as 

 in Northern India. From August or 

 September to the following January or 

 February there is abundance of cotton in 

 which they multiply. In places where 

 the temperature falls, as in the Deccan, 

 Northern India and Behar, they 

 hibernate as pupae, rarely as eggs, larvae 

 or moths, until March. If cotton-plants 

 are left standing in the field or if 



In Western India these insects 



FIG. 101. 



Cocoon of Spotted Soil-worm. 

 (Magnified three times.) 



FIG. 102. 



Spotted Boll-worm Moth. 

 (Magnified twice.} 



neumons and one tachinid fly. Of these, one l 

 is generally distributed and a very important 

 check on the increase of the insect ; the fly 2 

 has been found in some scattered localities 

 and may be an insect of some importance. 



Description. The moth of the com- 

 moner species s is coloured with a broad green 

 band extending from the base to the apex of 

 each wing. This green band may be absent, 

 the whole wings being ochreous or buff. 

 The other species* has the forewings a 

 bright green. In both species the moth 

 measures a little under half an inch in 

 length, the expanded wings nearly one inch. 

 The lower wings are white, and the under 

 surface of the body nearly white. 



bhindi is available, they then find 

 food; if not, they remain dormant 

 as moths or possibly pupae, until 

 the rains. Where cotton is grown 

 throughout the year, it is conti- 

 nually attacked except in the cold 

 weather. Both species are widely 

 distributed in India and practically 

 range throughout the plains. 



Spotted boll-worms are attacked 

 by three distinct parasites, two ich- 



FIG. 103. 



Spotted Soil-worm Moth. 

 (Magnified three times.) 



1 96. Ehogas lefroyi. Ashin. (Chalcidju.) 



2 99. Plectops orbata. Wied. (Tachinidse.) 



1 73. JBarias fabia. Stoll. (Noctuida;.) 

 4 108. Earias insulana. Boisd. (Noctuidiu.) 



