41 



Natural Enemies. The cotton worm has many natural 

 enemies which exercise a very large degree of control over 

 its abundance, and it is probable that this pest is often held 

 in check by these means to such an extent as to render it 



quite inconspicuous for consider- 

 able period? of time. The natural 

 enemies are of many kinds : birds, 

 toads and lizards devour both the 

 caterpillar and the moth. The 

 caterpillars are also eaten by the 

 fiery ground beetle (Calosoma 

 caliduin Fig. 37) which is known 

 to occur in St. Vincent and Bar- 

 buda, and by the wild bee or 

 Jack Spaniard (Polistes annu- 

 laris Fig. 38) and other related 

 insects. The caterpillars and 

 pupae are parasitized by the 

 hymenopterous parasites such as 

 the Chalcis flies (C. annulata), by 

 certain dipterous flies, and the 

 eggs are attacked by minute 



parasitic insects such as Trichocjramma pretiosa, Eiley, and 

 Telenomus, of which there are several species. The 

 accompanying illustration (Fig. 39) shows Chalcis ovata, 



Fig. 38. Wild bee or 

 Jack Spaniard. 



About \\ times natural size. 

 (Original ) 



Fig. 39. Hymenopterous parasite. 

 Enlarged. (From U.S Dept. Agric,) 



