152 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Cotton Culture and the Cotton Worm at 

 Manzanillo, Mexico. — The larger worm or cater- 

 pillar {Alio/lis xy/iiia) has made its appearance 

 on this coast three times during the last 20 years ; 

 in 1866, in 1873, and again in 1878. It is a dark 

 green looping worm, with white and black lines, 

 and destroj's the cotton plant by devouring the 

 leaves. It is as yet impossible for me to find out 

 the origin or even habits of this worm. I have 

 investigated the supposed causes of its appear- 

 ance, but without success ; the farmers here have 

 not the slightest idea about it. An apparent co- 

 incidence between the appearance of this plague 

 and overflooding of rivers in the cotton regions 

 should be mentioned. 



1865, September, high floods, complete inun- 

 dation of cotton lands. February, 1866, appear- 

 ance of the caterpillar in small numbers, not 

 causing much damage. 



1872, September, floods, partial inundation of 

 cotton lands, high lands and ridges in the valleys 

 not flooded. February, 1873, appearance of the 

 plague, and total destruction of cotton plant- 

 ations. 



1878, September, high floods, complete inun- 

 dation of cotton-growing valleys. 1879, Febru- 

 ary, partial plague, small damage done by the 

 caterpillar. 



I am of the opinion that the worm has not been 

 imported into Mexico, but originates in the cot- 

 ton valleys in such seasons, when the peculiar 

 condition of the soil and climate combine to fa- 

 vor the development of the larva. 



The cotton lands in this vicinity are bounded 

 on the W. by the Pacific Ocean, on the E. by high 

 mountains, la "Sierra Madre," on the N. and S. 

 by dense woods and tracts of uncultivated lands. 

 These circumstances present a great many ob- 

 stacles to the flight of the Cotton Moth. The 

 nearest cotton plantations, as well to northward 

 as to southward, are at a distance from Manzan- 

 illo of at least 100 miles. 



Cotton has been grown in the State of Colima 

 for the last fifty years. It does not grow wild, 

 but if abandoned, some plants grow up to good 

 sized trees, bearing fruit regularly every year. 



The directions of prevailing winds, on this 

 coast, are the following, viz : 



January, South and West. 



February, West and North-west. 

 March, do do 



April, North-west. 

 May, do 



June, South and North-west. 



July, South and West. 

 August, do do 



September, do do 



October, do do 



November, do do 



December, do do 



The north-west and west winds blow generally 

 during the day. At night these winds change to 

 the north, and north-east. 



I give the prevailing winds for the whole year, 



as our planting and picking seasons here are dif- 

 ferent from those in the United States. — Augustus 

 Morrill, U. S. Consul at Manzanillo, Mex. 



Antigaster mirabilis in Florida.— I was per- 

 fectly delighted with the different insects describ- 

 ed in the report )'Ou sent me. The parasitic fly 

 {Antigaster mirabilis) was intensely interesting, 

 as I had m3'self raised it from the eggs of Alicro- 

 cciitris rctinervis, and have had no trouble in 

 identifying it from your admirable cut. 



The Ap/ielimis, named and described by me 

 in Canadian Entoinologist, resembles the cut of 

 A. )iiytilaspidis, only its abdomen is more 

 slender and the thorax is not so thick. — Wm. N. 

 Ashmead, Jacksonville, Fla. 



Capture of Cotton Moth in January. — I beg 



to inform you that in a conversation with James 

 Seymour, one of our most energetic, and largest 

 cotton planters, he informed nie that he caught, 

 about the 20th of Januar)? last, a fully developed 

 Cotton Moth. 



The general impression among planters and 

 farmers is that we shall have the worms very 

 early this season, as the winter has been very 

 mild. We had considerable rain ; the month of 

 January was warm, also part of February, so 

 that many people planted corn and cotton, in 

 this section of country, which was well up and 

 forward, but was destro3'ed by frost in March. — 

 Geo. Witting, Columbus, Tex., Apr. 16. 



[Mr. Seymour, whose acquaintance we had the 

 pleasure of making, would not be likely to make 

 any mistake in his determination.] 



Answers to Correspondents. 



[We hope to make this one of the most interesting and in- 

 structive departnients of the Entomologist. All inquiries 

 about insects, injurious or otherwise, should be accompanied 

 by specimens, the more the better. Such specimens, if dead, 

 should be packed in some soft material, as cotton or wool, and 

 inclosed in some stout tin or wooden box. They will come 

 by mail for one cent per ounce. Insects should never be 



ENCLOSED LOOSE IN THE LETTER. 



Whenever possible, larvae (/. <?., grubs, caterpillars, maggots, 

 etc.) should be packed alive, in some tight tin bo.\ — the tighter 

 the better, as air-holes are not needed — along with a supply of 

 their appropriate food sufficient to last them on their journey : 

 otherwise they generally die on the road and shrivel up. If 

 dead when sent, thej^'should be packed in cotton moistened 

 with alcohol. Send as full an account as possible of the habits 

 of the insect respecting which you desire information ; for 

 example, what plant or plants it infests ; whether it destroys 

 the leaves, the buds, the twigs, or the stem j how long it has 

 been knovyn to you ; what amount of damage it has done, etc. 

 Such particulars are often not only of high scientific interest 

 but of great practical importance.] 



Grape-vine Flea-beetle. — I take the liberty to 

 address you in the hope that you will be so kind 

 as to suggest some remedy against the inclosed 

 (pests) insects that have attacked part of my vines. 

 I noticed them last year for the first time on one 

 vine only, but I was not fully aware of their de- 

 structive powers. This year many more have ap- 

 peared and have spread to many vines. They 

 destroy the buds when they first swell, by boring 

 or eating the inside of them. 



I presume the larva should be hunted and de- 

 stroyed, but I am ignorant of its hiding-place and 

 appearance. By giving me some information on 

 this subject, you will confer a great favor. — J. 

 Nilis, Dingman's Ferry, Pa. 



The insect sent is the Grape-vine Flea-beetle, 



