325 
through the correspondence of the Department, as published in their 
reports, frequent allusions to its ravages can be found. Mr. F. W". 
Mally (see Bull. 24, Div. Ent., IT. S. Dept. Agr., p. 24) appears to have 
been the lirst to notice its occurrence on cotton, but describes neither 
the worm nor the moth. He says: ''This fleshy worm was observed 
entering into nearly grown bolls and feeding on their contents. Its 
ravages are exactly like those of a nearly grown boll- worm, and the two 
can not be distinguished." This statement is scarcely correct, as in its 
earlier stage it is totally dissimilar to the boll-worm, and in its final 
larval stage there is only the most superficial resemblance. It is not as 
a destroyer of the boll, however, that it is to be feared, but rather as a 
cut-worm on young plants in early spring. In the latter capacity, 
should climatic and other conditions favor its increase, it may yet 
become a most destructive pest. I first met with it July 26, in the 
young larval stage, feeding in the newly forming boll. It had not only 
eaten irregular holes through the outer sheaths of the boll and the 
petals of the flower, but had also gnawed sufficiently into the corolla 
to destroy it. 
Mr. J. W. Brown recognized this cut-worm and stated that at this 
season it was rare. They were quite numerous earlier in the season 
and very destructive, attacking young cotton-plants as they appeared 
above ground, acres being sometimes destroyed and having to be reset 
to secure a good crop. 
It was successfully bred to the imago. In one case the larva 
pupated August 4, the moth issuing on the 16th; in another the pupa 
stage was reached August 6, the moth appearing on the 19th, thus giv- 
ing twelve and thirteen days, respectively, as the duration for the 
pupa state. 
One of the larva 1 , after the last molt, measured 1.25 inch in length. 
It had a dirty white or yellowish white dorsal lateral line, with two sub- 
triangular or semilunate velvety black spots on dorsal segments 2 to 
11, a V-shaped mark on cervical shield, and a large black spot over the 
fifth spiracle ; there is a pale indistinct median dorsal line that becomes 
entirely obliterated on segments 3 and 4, and distinct brownish stig- 
mal lines; laterally, below the stigmata, are numerous granulated 
white spots; thelabrum is broader than long and triangularly emargi- 
nated; while the legs are green, immaculate, with black claws. 
The larva 1 of three or four species of geometrid moths, termed 
"measuring worm,*' were also taken on cotton, but were rare and did 
but slight injury to the plant. 
ORDER DIPTERA. 
The species in the family Asilidse are predaceous on other insects, 
seizing them upon the wing and alighting and sucking their juices. 
Many of them are large and powerful and sting quite severely with 
their strong, piercing proboscis. The majority of the species appeal 
12283— No. 4 4 
