24 PAPEKS ON INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETABLES. . 



far from being complete. The mere occurrence of this insect at Los 

 Angeles, Cal., was observed as early as 1891 or 1892, but nothing 

 further was heard of the insect in the Pacific States until 1907, when 

 it was reported by Messrs. Ball and Titus, working on sugar beets 

 in that same region. 



In 1908 the species came under the observation of the junior author 

 on several occasions in Orange County, Cal. In October it was found 

 attacking horse-radish and cabbage at Santa Ana in the customary 

 manner, namely, feeding in the heart, webbing the leaves, and eating 

 out the tissues. At Garden Grove, Cal., it was attacking cabbage and 

 mustard. 



During June, 1908, Mr. D. K. McMillan observed this species on 

 radish, cabbage, and kale at Brownsville, Tex., the plants being con- 

 siderably damaged. The larvae in most cases had destroyed the 

 " buds " or had bored down into the center of the plants. They 

 seemed to attack only the midrib of kale and most cabbage plants, 

 feeding in a groove on the upper surface, which they cover with a 

 web, varying this by eating a small cavity extending along the in- 

 terior from one-fourth of an inch to an inch in some cases. Larvae 

 were observed on rape at Mission, Hidalgo County, and at Santa 

 Maria, Cameron County, Tex. At Brownsville they were found in 

 November on mustard cultivated for table use. At this time many 

 were found with tachina eggs placed in the usual location near the 

 head. Turnip tops were also affected, the work on turnip and mus- 

 tard being similar to that observed on rape and radish. The larvae 

 concealed themselves along the midrib, boring down into it as well 

 as along the groove, with a covering of silk under which they are 

 fairly well protected. 



From finding the insect in many localities, in several cases not in 

 destructive numbers, Mr. McMillan expressed the opinion that the 

 species in southern Texas is evidently largely controlled by parasites 

 and ' other natural enemies, as most individuals observed, even in 

 June, were parasitized. It is probable that the species is well dis- 

 tributed throughout nearly the entire State of Texas, and, although 

 held in check during most seasons by natural enemies, there is always 

 the likelihood that at any time it may crop out as a serious pest. 



October IT, Mr. Charles M. Jones, Stallo, Miss., reported injury to 

 turnip and collard. The larvae were not so active when the weather 

 was cool and appeared to work at all times of the day. An entire 

 crop of collards was destroyed. 



In Mississippi, also, Mr. M. M. High found larvae September 9, 

 1909, in large numbers on cabbage and turnip near Columbia. He 

 described them as beginning work by first spinning a web in which 

 to retreat. The}'' then eat out the ends of young plants and check 

 their growth, besides causing the death of some of them. They did 

 much damage, cutting out the "buds" of young cabbage, in addi- 



