45 



often returning after several seconds to repeat the operation on the 

 same ear. Then flying- from ear to ear tiie oviposition continues, with 

 an occasional visit to other parts of the plant to lay on the tassel, leaf, 

 or stalk. Some moths show much less steadiness of purpose and fly 

 about much more irregularly, ovipositing promiscuously on all parts 

 of the plant. 



When cowpeas are present between the rows of corn, especially in 

 fields of June corn in Texas, and very generally in field corn in other 

 Southern States, they receive a number of the eggs, the moths feeding 

 on the peas at intervals between the periods of oviposition. The 

 advantage of planting cowpeas in corn is thus evident, for the moths 

 do not leave the corn fields as they would if food were scarce, and 

 oviposition is confined largely- to the corn. If food is not to be had 

 in the corn fields the moths are compelled to move about in search of 

 it, many of them flying to cotton fields, where food is always to be found 

 if the plants are " squaring" or blooming. 



OVIPOSITION ON COTTON. 



As ma}^ be gathered from the foregoing, oviposition on cotton does 

 not begin until the season is well advanced. Owing to the very suit- 

 able condition of field corn for oviposition early in July, when the 

 maximum number of moths of the second generation are laying eggs, 

 but few of these moths oviposit on cotton. The resulting larvae from 

 the small percentage of eggs which are thus laid may, however, cause 

 the destruction of a few of the earliest squares. By the time the third 

 generation of moths has begun to emerge, which is about the first of 

 August in northern Texas, the field corn has begun to dry and the 

 ears to harden, so that it is no longer attractive either for food or for 

 oviposition. The moths are now attracted by the food offered by the 

 nectaries of the cotton plants in the adjacent fields and desert the 

 ripening corn almost entirely. 



Time and manner of oviposition. — The process of oviposition is not 

 continuous, but is varied by alternate periods of feeding and resting. 

 As soon as twilight begins, the moths commence to leave their hiding 

 places and fly about. At first their principal desire seems to be for 

 food, and the}^ fly from plant to plant feeding on the drops of moisture 

 on the flowers and at the nectaries on the squares. Soon periods of 

 egg-laying and resting are interpolated and later oviposition goes on 

 rather steadih^ The moths seem to fly about almost without purpose 

 and to lay eggs wherever they happen to alight if they can obtain a firm 

 foothold. This last seems to be rather important, for most of the 

 failures to lay were noticed on the upper sides of the leav^es, where it 

 is difficult for the moths to catch hold with their tarsi. The abdomen 

 is bent sickle-shaped beneath the thorax and the eggs pressed against 

 the desired spot with the ovipositor. Quite often several hasty 



