[80] 



REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



In 1876, found a few worms on July 12 ; August 2, considerable numbers in spots ; Au- 

 gust 22, reappeared in considerable numbers, all grades and sizes, but by September 

 7 they had mostly disappeared, it being very dry and hot, and birds and insects being 

 plentiful. In 1877, noticed worms in July; August 10, good many; August 16. in 

 sufficient numbers to justify use of Paris green in places, which saved that portion 

 of the crop, but the worms reappeared in force September 20, and by 25th there was 

 not a leaf left. In 1878, full-grown worms seen August 9, earlier broods not noted; 

 August 21, full crop green, black spots, out over large area of the country, though not 

 general; again used Paris green with success; September 12 to 19, cotton stripped. 

 In 1879, the worm was first seen about June 20 ; about July 15 it was again observed, 

 and now they are found through the fields in all parts of the parish, always the pale 

 green, yellow, striped, and black spots. We look for a pretty full crop about 25th, 

 and a destructive one about September 10, with continuance of this favorable showery 

 weather, unless some natural causes, in way of birds or insects, prevent their propa- 

 gation. 



6. The Cotton Fly is a shy iuvsect, and seeks shelter in large cotton, which grows in 

 damp spots ; there the eggs are deposited and the first worms hatched. 



7. The moth hibernates between the bark of old logs and dead trees, in the lofts of 

 barns, gins, and outbuildings, protected between shingles, or in crevices, in a state of 

 torpor. Only a few survive the rigors of winter ; hence the very few which appear in 

 the early spring. It is my impression that the moth is impregnated in the fall, but 

 this is simply a matter of conjecture. 



8. Nearly all birds and fowls devour the Cotton Worm with avidity, but the com- 

 mon black-bird, which to a considerable extent hibernates in this region and breeds 

 here, is the greatest enemy among birds. The common red wasp, the small red ant, 

 a species of large green spider that I have never observed except on the cotton plant, 

 a hexagon shaped bug, green and sometimes brown (it being apparently of a chameleon 

 nature), flat and emitting a very disagreeable odor when roughly touched, armed 

 with a long, sharp bill which it carries under the body — commonly called the pump- 

 kin-bug — and lastly, the Ichneumon fly, all destroy the worm in its various stages of 

 transition — the ant even taking the larvae from the under side of the leaves. The 

 wasp and Ichneumon fly, where numerous, seem to be most destructive. 



9. The experiment of saving a crop from worms by destroying the moth was most 

 eft'ectually tried prior to the war when well-controlled labor was at hand and money 

 was plentiful, and since then some enterprising men have spent much money and time 

 in the vain attempt to save their crops by this means, but none in this section have 

 succeeded. There are many, many times more worms hatched than necessary to com- 

 plete the work of destruction ; besides, my belief is that the moth deposits its eggs 

 before leaving shade of the thick cotton, and having accomplished its destructive 

 mission then flies about in the air. 



10. The moth is attracted by^ the light, and my observation is that the vessels con- 

 taining molasses, &o., being placed around the light, serve more to entrap than attract 

 them. The moth is very destructive to fall fruit, puncturing it so soon as it begins to 

 ripen. 



11. Have never noticed moth about flowers. 



12. Have never seen the experiment tried. 



13. Arsenic itself is used by some persons, they claim, successfully, and, of course, 

 as it only takes about one-quarter of a pound to an acre, it is the cheapest poison that 

 can be used ; but owing to the great weight and the perfect insolubility of arsenie 

 with water, I have found it a very unsatisfactory application ; first, unless incessantly 

 stirred and shaken it precipitates and clear" water is applied, and the Cotton Worm 

 lives on. 



Secondly, if too much is carried in suspension upon the cotton it burns all young 

 bolls and leaves. The Texas Worm Destroyer, a salt of arsenic, has considerable rep- 

 utation and does dissolve in water, but, individually, I have been unable to attain the 

 happy medium of mixture — either the worms are not killed or the cotton is much burnt 

 when applied strong enough to kill. A solution of arsenic known in this section as 

 "Early Bird," and which dilutes readily with water, has the same objection — it has 

 to bo made too weak to kill worms or it kills worms and burns cotton at the same time. 

 Hence I find myself compelled to adhero to the Paris green, even when run up to 75 

 cents per pound, as was the case in 1873. Have tried sundry other poisons without 

 effect. Am now having prepared several solutions of Paris green with ammonia for 

 experiment. As the great trouble is that Paris green will not dissolve in water — being 

 only held in a state of suspension and precipitating so soon as the water ceases to be 

 agitated — the water into which it is put has to be constantly stirred, and the 2-gallon 

 pots from which it is sprinkled have to be constantly shaken violently ; therefore we 

 have been, so far, unable to use any mechanical process of sprinkling. 



14. When applied too strong, say in greater proportion than 1 pound of green to 40 

 gallons of water, or 6 pounds of green to 200 pounds of flour and land-plaster, the mix- 

 ture will burn 'and kill young bolls, forms, and tender leaves, and thus do as much harm 



