91 



number of bollworms was noted and they were then allowed to pupate 

 separatel}^ After emergence a comparison was made, but it failed to 

 show even the slightest relation. 



ANATOMY AND SEXUAL DIFFERENCES. 



It is beyond the scope of the present bulletin to consider in detail 

 the anatomy of the bollworm moth. Most important in relation to the 

 economic position of the insect are the organs concerned in feeding 

 and reproduction. In common with other lepidopterous insects, the 

 bollworm moth feeds only on liquids, which are sucked up through 

 the long, flexible proboscis. The latter is about three-fourths as long 

 as the body and when not in use is coiled tightl}^ beneath the head. 

 When feeding it is held out nearly straight, a little curved near the 

 tip, which is applied to the nectaries on the squares when feeding on 

 cotton. Owing to the considerable length of the proboscis it can also 

 reach well within the cotton flowers. The food is drawn into the pro- 

 boscis by means of the large muscular pharynx which acts as a pump. 



The pharynx connects with the food reservoir, or stomach, by a 

 slender oesophagus. If overfed, as is often the case when food is 

 plent}", the stomach becomes greatly swollen. 



In the female almost the entire cavity of the abdomen is filled by 

 the ovaries. These organs consist of eight long tubules, four to each 

 side of the bod}^, although owing to their great length they are coiled 

 and folded upon one another many times. Near the tip of the abdo- 

 men they unite to form a single tube through which the eggs pass one 

 by one, as they are laid. The more mature eggs are near the end of 

 each tubule and those still in the process of formation near the farther 

 and more slender tip. The distal portion of the oviduct is hard and 

 chitinized, forming the ovipositor, by means of which the eggs are 

 placed on the plants. When the moth emerges the eggs in the ovaries 

 are small, but develop rapidly during the first day or two, at the end 

 of which time oviposition may begin. From counts made of the eggs 

 present in newly hatched moths, it seems probable that there is a con- 

 tinual formation of new eggs during life. 



In the male the abdomen is usually narrower than in the female and 

 the sides are more nearly parallel instead of bulging. The tip is also 

 less pointed and more squarely cut off. The amount of food in the 

 abdomen, however, very often conceals these characters, and others 

 must be relied upon for the separation of the sexes. A second charac- 

 ter which is sometimes available is the presence of certain spines on 

 the front margin of the wing near the base. In the male there is a 

 single long curved spine and in the female two equal smaller ones on 

 each hind wing. They are not always easy to see, however, and are 

 easil}^ broken off. When such is the case it is necessary to resort to 

 dissection to be positive. 



