6 BULLETIN 226, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Less time is required during warm weather, as the following will 

 show: 



Eggs deposited July 7, 1913 Egg state, 7 days. 



Larvae hatched July 14, 1913 Larval state, 15 days. 



Pupated July 31, 1913 Pupal state, 12 days. 



Adult August 12, 1913 Life cycle, 34 days. 



In the vicinity of Norfolk, Va., at least five or six generations are 

 produced each year. This with the voracious and indiscriminate 

 habit of feeding renders the species a very obnoxious pest when once 

 it has obtained a foothold in a locality. This is particularly true 

 where the production of seed is an object, since plants infested by 

 this insect become worthless. 



Besides undergoing all transformation within the seed capsule, the 

 larvae hibernate within this protection. During the winter larvae in 

 every stage of development, as well as pupae, were found concealed 

 in the seed capsules. 



METHODS OF CONTROL. 



Two methods of control were found effective against the larvse of 

 the verbena bud moth: (1) Poison spraying against the young larvae, 

 and (2) cutting back and destroying infested stalks. 



SPRAYING. 



Two poisons were employed in the spraying experiments. 



(a) Arsenate of lead, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water. 



Fish-oil soap, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water. 

 (6) Arsenite of zinc, 1J pounds to 50 gallons of water. 



Fish-oil soap, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water. 



The spraying was done as soon as the larvae began to hatch and 

 was directed toward the flower buds and young flower stalks. Sub- 

 sequent investigation developed that from 85 to 90 per cent of the 

 larvae had been killed. A second spraying followed eight days later, 

 owing to the fact that after the first spraying some moths were 

 observed ovipositing. 



CUTTING BACK AND DESTROYING INFESTED FLOWER STALKS. 



The nature of the verbena plant is such that during the fall of the 

 year the entire growth may be cut back and new growth will start 

 the following year. In this way the whole brood, including all stages 

 of the pest, is entirely eradicated. If this method is not followed in 

 the fall, one may, in the spring of the year, cut out carefully the in- 

 fested stalks, and the flower bed should be gone over several times in 

 order to obtain those missed at the time of the first cutting. 



