94 



ments. For a few moments afterward, until it has regained its com- 

 posure, the wings are held somewhat apart and vibrate rapidly (see 

 PI. XIV, iig. 4). If again disturbed while thus on the alert, the sec- 

 ond flight is usually longer, and the moth will fly for a hundred feet 

 or more before alighting. When the corn plants grow larger and the 

 tassels and silks are formed, the moths are usually concealed at the 

 base of the leaves close to the stalk. Later in the season the moths 

 most frequently hide during the daytime in cotton fields, patches of 

 cowpeas, or weeds in fence rows. In cotton or cowpeas the leaves 

 alford abundant shelter and the moths are usually to be found resting 

 on the upper side of one leaf in the shadow of another. (See PL XIV, 

 fig. 5.) More rarely they may be observed hanging to the flowers or 

 squares. When disturbed, they dart down along the rows or between 

 the plants, losing no time in choosing a second hiding place. They are 

 so quick in getting concealed that they sometimes disappear as if by 

 magic, especially where the foliage is dense. 



It is only rarely that moths are to be seen feeding or ovipositing in 

 bright daylight. But at periods when food is scarce a number of 

 moths are usually active during the day. They have been seen feed- 

 ing on the following plants in the daytime: Alfalfa flowers; cotton; 

 cowpeas; Eupatorium serotinum^ a common roadside weed; wild sun- 

 flowers; and Solanum rostratwn^ another roadside weed. On corn 

 they have been observed to feed on the sweet secretion of Aphis maidis 

 Fitch and Dicranoptropis {Deljphax) maidis Ashm., and on drops of 

 rain and dewdrops upon grass. Cockerell records them feeding on 

 plum blossoms at Mesilla Park, N. Mex., early in April. 



NIGHT HABITS. 



At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when the heat of the day has 

 passed, the period of activity for the moths begins, and continues until 

 well into the night. Sometimes, however, activit}^ does not begin 

 until much later, often not until half-past 6 or 7 o'clock. It is quite 

 noticeable that during periods when food is scarce, owing to drought 

 or other causes, the moths are out earlier than at other times. In fact, 

 their entire attention is given to feeding at first, after which the females 

 begin to alternate this with periods of oviposition, as has been described 

 in the preceding pages. The males no doubt continue to feed until 

 the females are well started on their work of egg-laying, but after 

 oviposition has become quite general males on the wing become scarce. 



During the process of feeding the moths fl}^ in much the same way 

 as when ovipositing. On cotton only the squares and flowers are 

 visited, no notice being taken of the nectaries on the under surface of 

 the leaves. Alighting on a square, the moths seek out the nectaries, 

 and if nectar is present each bract is usually visited in succession. If 



