COTTON 407 



generally keeps its shape; the crown and upper part may 

 or may not be left attached to the lower portion. The 

 newly hatched boll worm does not appear in any case to 

 devour the shell which it has just vacated. 



LARVA OR WORM STAGE. 



The Young Larva. When first hatched the young boll 

 worm is about 1*4 mm. in length and of a pale yellowish 

 colour, with a conspicuous bluish-green or bluish dorsal 

 line, which disappears after a short time. The head is 

 black or very dark brown, shiny, and furnished with a 

 number of long, fine, and pale-coloured hairs. Thoracic 

 shield brown. The body is provided with numerous fine 

 pale hairs, which are of considerable length, especially 

 on the anal segments. 



After it has escaped from the egg the boll worm 

 wanders about for a short time, and finally proceeds to 

 bore into a boll, square or terminal bud. 



Description of Mature Boll Worm (Plate II, Figs. 3 

 and 4). The mature larva or boll worm is about 15 mm. 

 or slightly more in length ; the anterior part of the body is 

 rather thick-set, but it tapers towards the anal end. The 

 " hunched-up " appearance is most marked when the boll 

 worm is at rest. The general colouring varies from 

 reddish-brown (often with a purplish tinge), with pale 

 brownish-yellow and orange markings, to pale bluish- 

 green and dull olivaceous-green, with similar adornments. 

 The body is furnished with numerous fleshy spikes, which 

 give the larva a very characteristic appearance. 



The head is highly polished, black or very deep brown, 

 shaded with a paler tint of the same colour; there is 

 a prominent median transverse yellowish band, which 

 gradually merges into brown at the edges. Antennae 

 pale. Inverted V-shaped mark, fine and dark. The head 

 is provided with a small number of short, fine, and pale 

 hairs. 



The thoracic shield is shiny, yellowish in colour, with 

 a median transverse, shallow, but broad groove, coloured 

 darlc brown; posterior edge of shield also of the same 

 colour. The shield is cut longitudinally by a pale line, 

 narrow anteriorly, broadening out posteriorly; along the 



