44 REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



The prevailing direction of the wind during the months of March, April, June, and 

 July is easterly, varying from N. E. to S. E. — Richard A. Edes, U. S. Consul, Bahia, 

 Brazil. 



One of the caterpillars referred to by Mr. Edes is the larva of a species 

 very near and perhaps identical with Aletia argillacea Hiibn., as proven 

 both by specimens received from him and others collected and bred by 

 Messrs. Branner and Koebele, while the other is undoubtedly Aletia 

 wylina. 



From Pemambuco we have had the following excellent account : 



United States Consulate, 



PernambucOj March 20, 1880. 



• * * The foes most fatal to the cotton plant are the different kinds of cater^ 

 pillars, which in some years increase to a frightful extent, destroying entirely the 

 crop and the pasturage j the absence of rain, and "the blight." * * * 



The Cott«>n Worm or caterpillar, Anomis xylina, particularly described in your letter, 

 attacks the plant in these provinces. It appears simultaneously with the bthw 

 varieties at the beginning of the rainy season, and never alone. It comes and disap- 

 pears with the rain. 



So far as can bo ascertained from observation, the Anomis xylina is believed to be 

 a native of the country. During some entire years it is extremely rare to see a cater- 

 pillar, whether there be sun or rain, wet or dry weather. Some varieties, however, 

 seem consequent upon the action of the sun, and others upon the action of the rain, 

 appearing and disappearing as if by enchantment. — ^Andrew Cone, U. S. Consul. 



In the more southern provinces of Brazil there is also a destructive 

 Cotton Worm, but its identity with Aletia has not been established. 

 The following paragraph from the report which Prof. J. E. Willet made 

 to us in 1878 refers to the work of this worm: 



Dr. E. L. Mclntyre, of Thomasville, Ga., writes: " I settled in the province of Sao 

 Paulo, Brazil, in the year 1866, and remained there eight years and a half. The cul- 

 tivation of cotton was of recent date then, and they were planting their fourth crop 

 when I arrived. Prior to the year 1863 there had been some cotton planted in the 

 country, perhaps of an indigenous variety, but no one had ever observed a Cotton 

 "Worm, and I believe they had never existed there. In 1862 the price of cotton offer- 

 ing great inducements to Brazilian farmers, they sought to procure seeds, but none 

 conld be had, and I am informed the seed then b^ing used was brought from New 

 Orleans. The first year no caterpillars were seen, but after the second they com- 

 menced to eat the leaves, and had increased to such an extent that when I moved 

 from there the cultivation of cotton was nearly abandoned." 



