174 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES 



is this difference, important to the grower, that the first genera- 

 tion of the melon caterpillar usually attacks the foliage, partic- 

 ularly of muskmelon, to which it. as well as the preceding, is 

 most destructive. By reason of this habit we can control it, in 



Fig. 



14.— Melon caterpillar. Moths, larva and pupa in case. Natural size 

 (From Comstock) 



a measure at least, with stomach poisons, which is impossible 

 with the pickle worm, since the latter lives internally through- 

 out its later larval stages. 



The parent insect has the wings pearly white, with a strong 

 iridescence, and bordered with brown (fig. 114). The cater- 

 pillar when full grown is a trifle smaller than the pickle worm, 

 measuring about eight-tenths of an inch. It is pale, greenish 

 yellow, with black mouth-parts. It is southern in distribution, 



