ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 65> 



Glover, in 1866, wrote that a dissection of a female boll-worm moth showed that it 

 contained about 500 eggs. Mr. P. W. Mally, who made an exhaustive study of this 

 insect for the U. S. Division of Entomology obtained 687 eggs from one moth. The egg 

 is oval in shape, whitish in color, and beautifully sculptured, fifty of them side by side 

 would make a line an inch long. The eggs are laid singly on various plants, but prefer- 

 ably it would seem on the young silk of ears of corn. This preference is taken advantage 

 of by the cotton growers who plant patches of corn here and there in the plantations to 

 serve as a trap crop, the corn being harvested at a time when the planters think they will 

 effect the maximum destruction of the larvae. The egg hatches in 2 to 4 days. The 

 larva which is variable in color undergoes well marked changes in its earlier moltings, 

 some of these are noticeable in the specimens exhibited. The mature worm is an inch to 

 an inch and a half in length and rather less than a fifth of an inch in diameter, the head 

 is amber colored and the body is strikingly marked by a dark stripe along the back centred 

 by a fine white line. On either side ot the dark stripe on the back are paler ones and on 

 the side a very distinct and whitish stripe in which the spiracles are found. On the sides 

 are three or four rows of tubercles each bearing a rather stiff hair. The two legs (the six 

 on the anterior segment of the body) are dark in color and the prolegs have each fifteen 

 small hooks. 



The first food of the young larva is its own egg shell, but it soon settles to work 

 devouring the tissue of its host plant, whether that be cotton, corn, tomato or some other. 

 In August it is said to pupate in about 21 days, and the pupal stage then to extend over 

 two or three weeks The last brood hibernates in the pupal stage. These remarks on 

 the life history are condensed from Mr. Mally's reports. 



The perfect moth like the larva is variable in color. It is fully described and well 

 illustrated in the 4th Report of the Entomological Commission. 



The series of specimens in our collections at London were taken by Mr. Moffatt, at 

 Hamilton, some years ago. I do not find any Ontario record of it since until this year. 



Although this year it is present in sufficient numbers to warrant the attention of the 

 economic entomologist, I do not suppose there need be much apprehension on the score 

 of serious injury in the future. The unusually prolonged season in Ontario may have 

 permitted the development of an additional brood as compared with other years. Were 

 it to remain and extend its area it would be most unwelcome as the question of remedy is 

 obviously difficult. Its presence in the green ear of corn can be detected by an observant 

 eye. When observed the tedious remedy of pinching or hand-picking might be resorted 

 to. Obvious difficulties stand in the way of spraying with poisonous solutions. 



Afte" the members present had examined the specimens brought by Mr. Dearness, 

 Mr. D wight Brainerd reported that he had met with the insect in Massachusetts this year 

 for the first time. Mr. Winn said that a few specimens had been found in Montreal and 

 referred to the mention of the insect in Mr. Gibson's list of moths taken at Toronto. Dr. 

 Bethune had found it this year also at Port Hope, where the larva burrowed into the 

 fruit of the tomato. 



MUSKOKA AS A COLLECTING GROUND. 



By Arthub Gibson, Toronto. 



In the month of August last I had the pleasure of spending two weeks in the 

 " Highlands of Ontario," Muskoka, my destination being Port Sydney. 



Port Sydney, with a population of about 50 inhabitants, is about 138 miles due 

 north of Toronto, being situated at the southern extremity of Mary Lake, which is about 

 5£ miles long and 2 or 3 wide. 



To a person who has never visited Muskoka, the Lakes which abound everywhere in 

 that district, and which as a rule, are filled with numerous small islands, beautifully 

 arranged, so to speak, and the mainland with its wild picturesque scenery, the sight tha 

 meets the eye is truly wonderful, and worth going some distance to see. 



5 EN. 



