THE IMPORTED CABBAGE WEB WORM. 25 



lion to devouring the remaining leaflets and spinning their small 

 but conspicuous webs over the plant. A grower here stated that the 

 damage seemed greater that season than heretofore, and that he 

 should have been marketing cabbage, but had none that had small 

 heads, all having been destroyed by this larva. 



He had tried to poison the larvae with Paris green applied dry, but 

 with little success. The webs prevent the poison in powdered form 

 from reaching the caterpillar in its protected feeding quarters. 



The insect infests the turnips to about the same extent as cabbage, 

 while it seems to be not quite so serious with turnips. 



September 16, 1909, the larvae did considerable damage to cabbage 

 and turnips at Kosciusko, Miss. When first hatched they are diffi- 

 cult to find, because of their habit of concealing themselves in the 

 crotch of a stalk and turning the edges of the leaflet back, forming 

 a domicile into which they retreat when not feeding. 



September 24, this pest was seen in large numbers on turnips at 

 Costal Springs, Miss. Many had already transformed to adult, 

 as many cocoons were found containing empty pupal cases. This 

 pest had destroyed about 16 per cent of the turnips upon the plat 

 and many dead leaflets were found among the remaining green ones, 

 due to its ravages. Hundreds of moths were flying over the patch, 

 alighting upon turnips and upon the ground. It was thought that 

 the insect was destined to do greater damage before the season was 

 over, as many larvae were still spinning their webs and devouring the 

 leaves. 



The part of the plat most seriously affected by the pest was not 

 nearly so well fertilized as the remaining portion. The portion where 

 most damage was done was upon high dry land, while the remaining 

 portion was upon damp rich soil. This same species was observed 

 cutting buds from late cabbage at Columbus, Ridgeland, Starkville, 

 and Gulfport, Miss. Mr. High wrote : 



The moth undoubtedly deposits her eggs near the "bud," where they hatch, 

 the young larvae devouring the bud, spinning webs, tying the larger leaves 

 together, one to three larvae going to each leaflet, curling the edge of the leaf 

 and forming an individual web, and, later, spinning a cocoon to transform into 

 the pupal stage. The larvae come out of these webs to feed and then retreat 

 when their hunger has been satisfied. This is one of the most serious pests of 

 the truck grower about Crystal Springs, Miss. 



It is evident that this remark may apply to practically the entire 

 State of Mississippi, and that similar conditions obtain in Georgia 

 and South Carolina. 



February 3> 1909, Dr. W. E. Hinds, entomologist to the Alabama 

 Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala., wrote that he had received this 

 species from Phoenix City and Montgomery, besides Auburn. 



October 2, Mr. High reported that he had again found this pest 

 at Gulfport, Miss., both upon late cabbage and turnips. Injury was 



