10 
BULLETIN' 1336, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
to 7 days. During the winter the life of the moth is greatly extended, 
because of hibernation. 
Table 2. — Longevity of moths of the green clover worm reared in confinement 
No. 
Sex 
Date of 
emer- 
gence 
• 
Date of 
death 
Length of 
life 
1 
Female.. . 
Oct. 14 
18 
16 
28 
Oct. 22 
25 
25 
Nov. 2 
Days 
8 
2 
Male... .... ..... .... 
3. . 
Female. 
9 
4__ 
Female .... ... 
Extremes . ... . 
5 and 9 
Average . .. 
7.25 
EGG STAGE 
Table 3 shows the length of the period of incubation of eggs laid 
by moths in captivity. During the summer and early fall months 
eggs hatched in from 2 to 5 days, but during cool weather in the 
spring the incubation period was lengthened to as many as 14 days. 
Table 3. — Length of incubation period of eggs of the green clover worm 
Egg lot No. » 
Laid — 
Hatched — 
Incuba- 
tion 
Egg lot No. 
Laid — 
Hatched— 
Incuba- 
tion 
1 
1916 
Mar. 26 
27 
28 
30 
Apr. 1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
8 
9 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
1916 
Apr. 2 
4 
4 
13 
13 
14 
14 
15 
15 
18 
14 
17 
22 
22 
23 
24 
26 
27 
Days 
8 
14 
12 
12 
11 
11 
10 
12 
6 
8 
9 
8 
8 
8 
9 
9 
19. 
20. 
1. 
2.. 
3.. 
4.. 
5.. 
6.. 
7.. 
8.. 
1916 
Apr. 20 
22 
1916 
May 1 
1 
Days 
11 
2 
9 
3 
Spring average... 
4 
9.45 
5 
July 26 
27 
28 
Aug. 1 
11 
25 
1915 
Sept. 8 
10 
July 31 
Aug. vi 
If 
3) 
15 
29 
1915 
Sept. 12 
13 
6 
5 
7 
5 
8 
4 
9 
2 
10 
4 
11 
4 
12 
13 
14 
4 
15 
3 
16 
ummer and early 
fall average 
17 
18 
3.88 
> Each lot contained from 15 to 1,104 eggs. 
LARVAL STAGE 
GENERAL HABITS 
In hatching, the larva eats a ragged hole at one side of the apex of 
the egg just large enough to permit exit. It then works its way slowly 
out and at once searches for food. During the first three instars the 
larva, when feeding on alfalfa, skeletonizes the leaf, leaving the upper 
epidermis intact ; but beginning with the fourth instar it eats entirelv 
through, avoiding only the larger veins. On large-leaved plants, such 
as soybean, the larvae are usually found stretched out on the under 
side of a leaflet; but on plants with smaller foliage they commonly 
feed extended along the stem, and in these positions their color blends 
