Sugar Beet Webworm 



When full grown the worms burrow into the soil and by much 

 wriggling and twisting about form a long cell extending from the surface 

 to a depth of 1* to 2 inches. When the cell is completed the worm pro- 

 ceeds to line it with silk, which it spins into a tough, leathery cocoon- 



After the cocoon is completed the worm begins to shorten and De- 

 comes very much wrinkled. All this time the pupal case has been form- 

 ing just under the worm's skin, which breaks and the pupa wriggles its 

 way out. 



Fig. 13. A Portion of the Compound Eye of a Tiger-beetle, highly 

 magnified. (See page 131) 



While in the pupal stage legs, wings, antennae and a long proboscis 

 with which the moth will suck the nectar from the alfalfa and other 

 flowers upon which it feeds, two compound eyes, each composed of many 

 smaller ones (See Fig. 13), and a covering of feather-like scales, are 

 formed. After all this is completed the moth comes forth. 



These moths from the first brood of worms mate and the females lay 

 the eggs for the next brood. These worms pass through the same changes 

 as the first until they enter the soil. All make cells like those of the first 

 brood worms and line them with silk. Only a small portion of them 

 pupate in the fall, however. The greater number remain unchanged in 

 their cells until the following spring. With the coming of warm weather 

 they change to the pupa and after ten days or two weeks, to moths, which 

 are the first moths to appear in the spring. 



76 



