192 
COTTON 
leaves under a thin web spun over the leaf. On 
account of the fact that these worms are often 
found on "careless weed" many farmers call them 
"careless worms," and where the planter allows 
these weeds to grow unchecked, these caterpil- 
lars are always worse. When winter approaches 
the caterpillar enters the ground as a larva, often 
becoming a pupa. They emerge the following 
spring. The female lays about 50 eggs, putting 
them in several bunches on the leaves of the cotton, 
and these eggs hatch in a few days. These first 
caterpillars are miscellaneous feeders, attacking 
alfalfa and various garden vegetables. The second 
brood is injurious to cotton. In the far South 
there are upwards of five or six broods a year. 
Clean cultivation is the most effective preven- 
tive of the development of this pest. This will 
destroy the weeds upon which they feed. Where 
they have become destructive to cotton they may be 
easily destroyed by dusting the plants with Paris 
Green or some similar insecticide. 
VII. THE COTTON SQUARE BORER 
We have already considered the work of the cot- 
ton boll worm and have learned how it bores holes 
in the squares and bolls. We have learned the 
appearance of the caterpillars and feel that we shall 
know them every time we see them. When we go 
through the cotton field, however, we may see an- 
other insect doing work similar to that of the boll 
worm, but clearly a different insect. It is a short, 
thick caterpillar covered with hair, and has a uni- 
formly green appearance. These insects are called 
Cotton-square Borers. The mother of these 
green, oval-shaped caterpillars is a dainty little 
