105 



moths live long enough thus to enable them to pass the entire winter 

 in hibernation. 



With regard to the moths in the large field breeding cages some evi- 

 dence was secured. Although scattering moths continued to emerge 

 during September and October, all died within a short time, and none 

 showed the slightest inclination to hibernate. 



This is, of course, negative evidence, but enough to permit of the 

 conclusion that hibernation of the moths in Texas is most unlikely, 

 and that if it does occur an extremel}^ small number must hibernate in 

 this way compared with the numbers of the insect which pass the win- 

 ter in the pupal stage. 



On the other hand, it is quite probable that in southern Florida the 

 moths remain more or less active throughout the entire year, since the 

 temperature there ordinarily does not fall below 65^ F. in the winter. 

 This is not true hibernation, however. 



INSECTS SOMETIMES MISTAKEN FOR THE BOLLWORM. 



Unlike the Mexican boll weevil, the boUworm has been for so long 

 a well known cotton pest that it is rather unusual for planters to con- 

 fuse it with any other insect affecting cotton. 



There are, however, two other caterpillars which injure cotton in 

 exactly the same manner as the boUworm, so that unless the insects 

 themselves are in evidence it is not possible to tell their work from 

 that of the genuine boll worm. Fortunately neither of them is ever 

 present in large numbers, and the damage which they cause is imma- 

 terial compared to that done by the bollworm. 



The first of these is the cotton cutworm, Prodenia ornitliogalli 

 Guen. (see PI. XVI, figs. 2, 3, 4), which sometimes feeds on the 

 squares, flowers, and bolls. It bores into them in exactly the same 

 way as the bollworm. It is also a very general feeder, frequently 

 occurring on the spiny pigweed growing adjacent to cotton. Larvae 

 were seen on cotton only during July and the early part of August, 

 disappearing after that date. 



The second is the larva of a butterfly, Calycopis cecrops Fab., bet- 

 ter known under the name of Theclapmas Hbn. The adult oviposits 

 on the involucre surrounding the squares, and the resulting larvye eat 

 out the contents of the squares, making a large hole in the side similar 

 to that left by a good-sized bollworm (see PI. XVI, tig. 1). This 

 caterpillar also is most abundant early in the season, generally during 

 the latter half of June and the first two weeks in July. No doubt it 

 would be much more destructive were it not for the frequency with 

 which parasites prey upon it. Out of eight or ten larvc^ brought into 

 the laboratory at various times every one proved to be parasitized. 



