TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Fage. 



Letter of submittal .....' xvii 



Preface xix 



Introduction xxiii 



CHAPTER I. 



Classification and nomenclature. Destructiveness 1 



Popular and scientific names, 1 — most desirable popular name, 1 — different 

 technical names, 1 — history of these names, 1 — the name Aletia xylina 

 the correct one, 1 — synonomy of the insect, 2 — classificatory position, 

 2 — importance of the family Noctuidse, 2 — destructiveness of the worm, 

 2 — causes which increase this destructiveness, 2 — regions where losses 

 are greatest, 2 — and least, 3— tabular statement of losses, 3— previous 

 statements, 3 — statement of loss in 1881j 4. 



CHAPTER II. 



Characters, habits, and natural history 5 



Distinct states of growth, 5 — the worm must hatch from an egg, 5 — descrip- 

 tion of egg, 5 — where the egg is laid, 5 — number of eggs to a leaf, 6— 

 time elapsing before hatching, 6 — unhatched eggs perish when frozen, G — 

 insects' and other eggs mistaken for eggs of Aletia, 6 — characters of worm, 

 6 — description of newly-hatched worm, 6 — number of molts, 7 — different 

 colors of worm, 7 — habits of worm at different stages, 7 — jumping habit, 

 7 — only known to feed on cotton and one another, 8 — odor of the worm, 

 8 — migrations of worm, 8 — method of pupation, 8 — formation of cocoon, 

 8 — the worm never burrows in the ground, 8 — distinctive characters of 

 the chrysalis, 9 — duration of chrysalis state, 9 — distinctive characters of 

 the moth, 9 — sexual differences in the moths, 9 — different habits of the 

 moths at night and by day, 10 — their strong flight, 10 — their position at 

 rest, 10— how soon the female begins to lay, 10 — her prolificacy, 10 — food 

 of the moth, 10 — it injures fruits, 11 — structure of the tongue, 11 — 

 mention of other ^^"octuidsB which injure fruits, 11 — time elapsing from 

 one generation to another, 11 — this will average about one month, 12 — 

 time of year when the first worms appear, 12 — former opinions erroneous, 

 12 — dates of earliest appearance variable, 12 — worms of all sizes found 

 in Florida and Southern Georgia in the latter part of March, 12 — first 

 worms always few and scattered, 12 — they multiply and sjjread irregu- 

 larly, 12 — their progress governed by the season and latitude, 13 — the 

 third generation often called the first, 13 — number of annual generations, 

 33 — there are at least seven in Southern Texas, 13 — gradual progress and 

 succession of broods, 14— the second generation exceptionally very inju- 

 rious, 14 — why not usually so, 14 — extent of migratory flights of the 

 moths, 15 — probable existence of northern food-plants, 15 — causes and 

 seasons of migration, 15 — behavior of migrating moths, 15— the question 



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