THE LEPIDOPTERA 



271 



the larvae (Fig. 2786) begin feeding, at first on the surface of the plant 

 but soon boring into it at some tender place. 



With cotton, injury is caused by eating out the squares and the more 

 tender bolls. In the case of corn the first attack is by boring into the 

 bud and eating down into the developing leaves. Later, the tassels are 

 often injured before they open, and after the silk appears eggs are laid on 

 this and the caterpillars which hatch from them bore into the ears of corn to 

 varying distances, often entirely destroying the ears, particularly in the 

 case of sweet corn. Tomatoes are injured mainly by the larvae boring 



FIG. 278. Corn Ear Worm (Chloridea obsolela Fab.) : a, adult moth; b, larva; d, pupa: all 

 enlarged. (From U. S. D. A. Farm. Butt. 890.) 



into the green or partially ripened fruit, and in some cases by boring into 

 the tips of the plants or eating the blossoms. With tobacco the larvae 

 attack the bud leaves at the tip of the plant and later bore into the pods. 

 Peaches, peas, beans, etc., are also sometimes injured and the average 

 annual loss by the ravages of this pest in the United States has been esti- 

 mated as over eighteen million dollars. 



There are several generations of this insect each year, four or five 

 being produced in the far South and this number reducing northward 

 until in the Northern States and Canada there is but one. The larvae 

 vary greatly in color and markings and are most easily recognized by the 

 nature of their work. When full-grown they are about an inch and a 

 half long. 



