CHAPTER VIII. 



NATUEAL ENEMIES. 



We have already seen that meteorological conditions may favor or 

 retard the multiplication of the Cotton Worm, but that their influence 

 is, in a great degree, indirect, i, e., by favoring or retarding the work of 

 the insect's natural enemies. Careful observations in the field for a 

 single season will convince any one that these natural enemies are far 

 more numerous than has hitherto been supposed, and that without their 

 aid man would be powerless in his efforts to cope with an insect with 

 such powers of multiplication as Aletia possesses. Those who have 

 carefully watched the worms in any given spot have been struck with 

 the sudden disappearance from day to day of a certain proportion of 

 them. This apparently mysterious disappearance is admirably set forth 

 in the experiments made by Professor Willet with the yeast fungus, and 

 quoted farther on. It frequently puzzled and baffled Mr. Schwarz in 

 his efforts to watch the worms on certain special plants, and there can 

 be no doubt that it is due mainly, if not entirely, to the efficient work of 

 natural enemies, especially those that are nocturnal. 



Since the introduction and general use of arsenical poisons as a 

 remedy for the Cotton Worm, the economic importance of its natural 

 enemies has greatly lessened; as many of these, especially such as 

 bodily devour their victims, are likewise poisoned. Yet whole crops 

 are occasionally saved by these friends to the planter, as is proven by 

 instances given farther on. But few new enemies have been added 

 to those treated of in the first edition of this work ; but the habits of 

 many, especially of the parasites, have been more carefully studied. 



VEBTEBEATJES. 



Among quadrupeds the Cotton Worm has few enemies of importance. 

 Hogs are rather fond of it, as attested by many planters.^^ The Eaccoon 

 is also reported to have been seen eating the worms from the plants, 

 and breaking these down in doing so. The Skunk and the Opossum 

 have also been known to feed upon it. These animals can do little good, 

 except where the worms are in such large numbers that they travel over 

 the ground and from field to field. Bats devour large numbers of the 

 moths, and, in favorable localities, may be seen at evening time dash- 

 ing over the cotton fields in pursuit of them. 



Birds are of incalculable benefit, and it is probable that most of the 

 insectivorous birds which prevail in the South feed at times on the spe- 



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