DISEASES OF THE COTTON PLANT. 
185 
by lights or fires placed in the field at night, as recom- 
mended for the moth of the cotton caterpillar. The same 
plan would also serve to diminish their numbers, should 
they ever increase. 
The Yellow Caterpillar. 
There is a yellow, hairy caterpillar found on the cotton 
plant in September and October, which devours the leaf. 
The specimens observed in South Carolina and Georgia 
appeared to be of solitary habits, not congregating together, 
like the cotton caterpillar and grass-worm, but feedmg 
alone on the plant. 
The young of these insects are of a much lighter color 
than those nearer maturity. The ground color of the old 
caterpillar is yellow, profusely specked and shaded with 
small black dots ; a yellow longitudinal line runs along the 
side below the spiracles ; on each segment of the body rise 
numerous small yellowish-brown excrescences, or warts, 
from which issue tufts of long brownish-black hairs. The 
head is black, jvith a yellow stripe running down the mid- 
dle. It has six pectoral, eight ventral, and two anal feet. 
The cocoons are ovoid in shape, formed on or near the 
surface of the ground, and constructed of silk intermingled 
with gravel, particles of soil, and the hairs from their own 
bodies. These caterpillars are reputed to be capable of 
stinging ; but as I repeatedly handled them with impunity, 
their poison, if any, cannot be very powerful. 
The chrysaUdes, which are dark brown, approaching to 
black, appeared about the end of September, and were 
quite short and thick. I cannot describe the perfect moth, 
as, unfortunately, the chrysalides did not live to perfect 
their last transformation. These caterpillars, although 
described as infesting cotton, cannot be classed amongst 
