[52] REPORT 



THE TWO SPECIES/ 



So far it has not been attempted to distinguisli between the two species of larvae 

 that affect cotton-plants in Brazil. As a rule, the people of the cotton region call 

 them all " cotton caterpillars," and I saw but one person, a farmer, who, when the 

 two larvae were shown him, recognized the fact that they were different, and who as- 

 sured me that the « was the " true cotton caterpillar," as he called it. The & species, 

 he said, also devoured the cotton, but they never seemed to be so plentiful. How 

 much credence is to be given to this statement, it is impossible to say, until further 

 observation shall have been made. 



It is not to be expected that the planters would observe carefully the first appear- 

 ance of the larvae, or that they should notice their presence at all until they become 

 dangerous ; and such is the case. This also explains their assertions that the worms 

 appear in April and May. Up to the 22d of February the planters about Bonito in- 

 sisted that there were no caterpillars in the cotton-fields, although they had been found 

 by us for more than a month. 



At Bonito, January B, 1883, the eggs and young larvae of h were first found, and the 

 first moth came out January 23. The collecting in the field was continued from Janu- 

 ary 8 till February 22, and the moths were bred as rapidly as possible. But it was 

 not until the 6th of February that s came out, just two weeks after the appearance 

 of the first b. 



Up to February 22, there were, in all, about 559t specimens of these moths bred. Of 

 this number only 48 were s, all of which came out between February 6 and February 

 22. Aside from these that were bred indoors, either from larvae one or two days 

 old, or from the eggs, there were oflly three «, and twenty -two & captured. Every ef- 

 fort was made to capture both kinds of moths, but baiting and the use of lights to 

 attract them were quite unavailing. A few &'s were taken along with large numbers 

 of noctuidst that frequented the flowers of the Cleome Tieptaphylla that grew abun- 

 dantly about our house. Out of the 25 thus captured, only three were 8. 



The eggs from which the moths were reared were found on the inferior sides of the 

 cotton leaves, while the larvae were taking by beating the bushes, none of them be- 

 ing rejected. 



The eggs and young larvae when taken were placed in breeding cages together, and 

 fed until they pupated, when the pupae were removed to other boxes. It was noticed 

 that the s's generally webbed up in the gauze covering of the breeding-boxes, while 

 the &'s preferred the bottom of the boxes and the cotton leaves or bits of paper placed 

 there for them. 



The time passed in the pupa state appears to be the same with one as with the 

 other species. Of the 143 observations in regard to the time from the day of pupat- 

 ing till the issue of the perfect insect, 108 were made npon &, and 32 upon 8. In the 

 case of the latter, the insect remained in the pupa state as follows : 



Days in the pupa : Cases observed. 



11 14 



10 8 



12 5 



13 2 



14 1 



16 1 



9 1 



In the case of b, the time passed in the pupa state was as follows : 

 Days in the pupa : ' ' Cases observed. 



11 44 



10 . 27 



12 24 



9 8 



8 5 



13 1 



14 1 



16 1 



* Of the insects here referred to, those marked 6 include a very variable species, 

 which is Anomis derogata, while those marked 8 are the genuine Aletia xylina (Say). 

 For further particulars see note (58). 



t Fifteen others were bred at Bahia, of which three were s. 



X Mr, Koebele, unaided, caught in the cyanide bottle more than a hundred moths on 

 the Cleome flowers almost every night after February 8. One evening he caught 200, 

 another 228, and another 439. These moths were taken between 8 and 11 o'clock, after 

 which hour but few were seen. On several other evenings he caught over 200 in the 

 same manner. 



