46 



THE FLOWER-BUD MAGGOT (Contarinia gossypii, Felt.). 

 Diptera. 



The flower-bud maggot is the larva of a very small fly 

 (Fig. 42) which lays its egg in the young flower buds of 



Fig. 43. Flower- bud maggot. 

 The larva. About 30 times natural size. (Original.} 



the cotton plant. The larvae (Fig. 43) feed on the develop- 

 ing essential organs, causing the death; 1 of the bud, and 

 consequently preventing the formation of the boll. The 

 bracts surrounding the base of the attacked'flower-bud gen- 



Fig. 44. Flower buds of cotton, showing flaring of bracts resulting 



from attack of flower-bud maggot. 



Reduced. (Original.} 



