6 BULLETIN 918, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



to keep them fresh, and bolls were provided for oviposition. Pieces 

 of blotting paper dampened with water or sweetened substances 

 were added as food for the moths. The eggs were removed to other 

 jars for ha telling and the young larvae carefully removed to the food. 

 Bolls and squares were used, but the squares were found more 

 satisfactory. The food with the young larva? was placed in vials 

 plugged with cotton. The pieces of bolls would become discolored, 

 decomposed, and unsuitable for food in one or two days, while a 

 square would remain in good condition several days and the larva 

 could be examined daily with less disturbance. 



Wire cages were also used over small potted plants and cotton 

 plants in the experimental plat to check the laboratory results. 

 The pupse were removed to glass vials with a piece of damp cotton 

 in the bottom to provide the necessary humidity. 



Temperature and humidity records were made with maximum and 

 minimum thermometers and recording hygro thermographs placed 

 indoors and outside in a U. S. Weather Bureau instrument shelter. 



MOTH. 



Description. 



The moth with wings spread is about three-fifths of an inch from 

 tip to tip, dark brown in color, with irregular blackish markings on 

 the forewings, the hindwings silvery gray with no distinct markings. 

 The forewings are bluntly pointed, the hindwings acutely pointed, 

 and both heavily fringed posteriorly. When at rest the wings are 

 folded flat over the back. 



Habits. 



The moths are very seclusive in their habits during the day. It 

 is exceptionally rare to find one in the fields until after sundown. 

 Just at dusk they can be seen flitting very quickly from plant to 

 plant, and by close examinations with a flashlight at night they can 

 be readily found in a resting position on almost any part of the plant. 

 They are active as late as 12 p. m. No observations were ever made 

 later at night, but it is very likely that they remain active until 

 daybreak. Occasionally they conceal themselves on the plant, but 

 usually they crawl under trash, stones, clods, or even into the loose 

 soil. They are very loath to leave their hiding places during the 

 day, but when disturbed they run with a quick jerky movement or 

 fly a short distance and immediately hide under the nearest object. 



In the laboratory the moths emerging from stored cotton would 

 congregate on the window screens at dusk. They would remain 

 quietly till morning and then return to their hiding places. Only 

 rarely would one be seen during the day. 



