99 



reaches a length of about 3 inches. The pupal stage (Fig. 

 Ill) is passed in the ground, and lasts some ten or twelve 

 days. The moths (Fig. 112) have a spread of wings of about 



Fig. 112. Potato worm. 

 Adult insect. Natural size. (Imperial Dept. Agric.) 



3 inches, and the body is about If inches in length. This is 

 one of the most abundant of the large moths, in Barbados 

 at least, and is often attracted to lights in houses. The 

 moth is greyish or brownish in colour, with five pairs of 

 pinkish or reddish spots along the abdomen. 



Control. It only rarely happens that this insect 

 occurs in such numbers as to make it necessary to apply 

 any insecticide for its control. When this occurs, however, 

 Paris green and lime will be found a thoroughly efficient 

 remedy. 



The caterpillars of the sweet potato worm are attacked 

 by a parasitic fly (Sturmia, distinct a). These parasitic flies 

 (Fig. 113) finish their development in the pupa of the 

 potato moth, and it often happens that in fields where 

 countless numbers of worms have entered the soil to pupate, 

 very few moths emerge. Egg parasites are known as 

 natural enemies of many moths, and it is likely that the 

 eggs of this insect are also attacked in this manner. 



