THE PINK BOLL WORM. 



9 



boll. In the early stages it sonietinies assumes a somewhat pinkish 



color. It may be distinguished from the pink boUworm by its habits, 



especially by the fact that it does not feed altogether in the interior 



of the bolls and that it is not found within the 



seeds. Wlien full grown it is much larger than 



the pink boUworm, measuring about 2 inches in 



length. 



The insect most likely to be mistaken for the 

 pink boUworm is the boll weevil. Although the 

 boll weevil is sometimes found in seeds, it gener- 

 ally is found feeding within the interior of the 

 boll. It discolors the fiber considerably, and this 

 causes the interior of the boll to assume a more or 

 less decayed appearance, quite unlike the appear- 

 ance of bolls infested by the pink bollworm, in 

 which decay generally does not occur. This so- 

 called cleanliness of the work of the pink hollworm 

 is one of the most useful characteristics in differ- 

 entiation. 



The accompanying illustrations will assist the 

 reader in deciding whether the work in question is 

 that of the pink bollworm or some other insect 

 found in cotton bolls. 



Fig 



—The pink 

 bollworm : Pupa. 

 Much enlarged. 

 (Busck.) 



Fig. 5. — Exit holes of pink bollworms in cotton holls. 



Figure 5 shows on the left the appearance of the interior of an in- 

 jured boll, and on the right the characteristic small circular opening- 

 made by the larva for the purpose of allowing the adult to emerge. 



63886°— 18— Bull. 723 2 



