OBSERVATIONS ON THE COTTON WORM. .j9 
growth, aod spent several days in careful search, but though finding 
occasional traces of larval action, no Aletia or larva* were obtained. 
During July, about the 10th, I was advised of the finding of a few cot- 
ton-worms, about 24 miles southeast of Archer, and August 1 I found a 
single full-grown larva in a field near Archer, but a close search showed 
no others discoverable in that field. 
About August 10 the larva 1 appeared in force 10 miles southeast, and 
almost simultaneously 10 miles north of Archer. 
Since then their progress has been extremely erratic. In fields side 
by side, one would be destroyed, the other hardly disturbed. In one 
case a track from east to west was destroyed. This was in the center 
of a large field, and about 150 feet wide; the sides of the field remaining 
were but slightly damaged. 
In this case I could see no reason for such action; there was no per- 
ceptible difference in soil or cultivation. 
By August 2(5 the cotton-worms were in fields 9 miles from Archer, 
north or south; August 30 they were 4 miles each way, and, though I 
caused careful examination and offered rewards, no larvae or moths could 
be found in intervening fields. 
September 2, 1 found larva? 3 miles southeast ; and on the 24th, I noted 
a few larva 1 in near-by fields. 
The prevailing winds during August and September have been from 
the east and southeast. 
South and west of Archer is a long line of barren sand hills thinly 
timbered and with but few planters. Though but 5 miles from Aletia- 
infested fields, no cotton-worms were found this year or last in these 
localities. 
August 10, I visited a plantation 9 miles southeast and found small 
larva?. August 18-20, all were pupae, and from some dozens of pupse 
obtained August 20, moths appeared August 2G-28. 
In this case the pupa* remained but six to eight days. 
In many fields this year a gray fungoid growth appeared in small 
patches upon the under side of the cotton leaves, attacking generally 
the thriftiest plants. In these places the larva' seemed to lack vitality, 
soon becoming yellow and dying before pupation. This disease has not 
been noticed before this year, and does not act like the "rust" usually 
found in worn-out land. 
In many places I found an apparent antagonism existing between the 
Aletia and the cotton-stainer (Dysdercus suturellus). In fields infested 
with both insects, but few and often no Aletia larva' could be found 
where the cotton-stainers were in any great numbers. This may, how- 
ever, be only a coincidence. 
In one field I found that the guinea fowl had rendered most efficient 
service. The cotton presented a singular appearance; the upper portion 
of the plants nearly leafless, the lower limbs green and vigorous. 
The martins and the bull bat are of little apparent service to the cot 
