13 



simply designated the "worm," in distinction to the so-called "cater- 

 pillar" or " arm}' worm," the larva of Alabama (Aletia) argillacea Hbn. 

 In certain portions of the cotton belt, as southern Louisiana and Missis- 

 sippi, the insect is commonly called the "sharpshooter" or "sharp- 

 shooter-fly." It should be stated in this connection that the name 

 sharpshooter is properly applicable only to certain homopterous in- 

 sects of the genus Homalodisca, especially Homalodisca triquetra Fab. , 

 a very different insect from the cotton bollworm. 



The almost universal injuries of the insect to corn have resulted in 

 the use of three names for the bollworm, descriptive of the parts 

 attacked. Thus, in the spring, when infesting the "buds" of young 

 field corn, it is known as the bud worm, and later, when the unfold- 

 ing tassels are attacked, it is called the tassel worm. But the larva is 

 most frequently met with infesting roasting ears and has thus become 

 well known under the name of corn-ear worm. It has been desig- 

 nated in Minnesota by Lugger as the sweet-corn moth. 



On tomatoes the frequent considerable injury by the larvae to the 

 green and ripening fruit has given rise to the name of tomato fruit- 

 worm, or simply tomato worm. In southern New Jersey, according 

 to Dr. J. B. Smith, the larvae are known to tomato growers as heart 

 worms. 



Tobacco growers know the bollworm under the name of bud worm, 

 though two species of Heliothis are concerned in injury to the tender 

 buds of the tobacco plant. 



In New South Wales our bollworm is known as the maize moth; 

 in Cape Colony, South Africa, as the peach under-wing, from its 

 depredations on this fruit, and also as "risper," signifying caterpillar. 



Throughout this bulletin the name "bollworm" is adopted, as its 

 present consideration refers more especially to its depredations on 

 cotton. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



But few, if any, species of insects are more widely distributed 

 throughout the world than is our cotton bollworm. Within the paral- 

 lels of about 50° north and south latitude, the localities of its occur- 

 rence form an almost complete girdle around the world. The most 

 southerly recorded point of its occurrence is Dunedin, New Zealand 

 (South Island), south latitude about 46°, and the most northerly is 

 Sjselland, Denmark, north latitude about 55° 30'. In its vertical dis- 

 tribution it is known to occur at sea level at man}' places, and it is 

 recorded from Milpas, Durango, Mexico, by Druce at an altitude of 

 5,900 feet. In Natal, according to Mr. Claude Fuller (in lit.), it has 

 been noted from sea level to 5,000 feet above. 



In the accompanying outline map of the world (PI. I) the principal 

 points of its occurrence are indicated by dots. In the United States 



