CHAPTER IV. 
THE COTTON WORM IN OTHER COUNTRIES. 
Aletia xylina, although widely spread in the Western Hemisphere, has 
not yet been found, as far as we are aware, in the Eastern. The cotton 
crop in the Eastern countries, in Egypt, Greece, India, Australia, has 
its insect enemies : in Egypt, a Noctuid larva ; in Greece, various species 
of Cut worms; in India, the Tineid Boll-worm, Depressaria gossypiclla ; 
in Australia, a red bug allied to the Dysdcrcus suturellus of the West 
Indies ; but Aletia wyHna lias ;t> vet been found only in North and South 
America and tlie intervening islands. 
Up to the present time the northernmost point at which Aletia has 
been collected seems to be Quebec; and as to its southern limit, there 
mm ■ 11 is little doubt but that it is found in Sao Paulo, one of the southern 
provinces of Brazil. Its western limit is the Pacific, although we have 
no Information as to its occurrence in California, even in the cotton 
fields in the southern part of the State. It is found, however, upon the 
coast further south at Mazatlan and Manzanillo, Mexico, as shown in 
the following extracts from correspondence \\ Inch we have had with the 
United States consuls at these ports, Aletia being identified in most 
cases from specimens received : 
Consulate of the United States, 
Mazallan, December 3, 1879. 
" * * Tho Cotton Worm, or as known hero by the name of the Array Worm, the 
Bud Worm, and the Boll Worm, are the worst insect enemies. The regular Cotton 
or Array Worm attacks the cotton plant every year, but about once in four years is 
very destructive. It appears to bo deposited by a fly on tho underside of the leaf, 
which rolls up, and in a few days tho worm, of about 2 inches, appears. During the 
winter months it disappears. Cotton was first introduced into this State, in 1863, by 
an American, Mr. Francis Nolan ; it was produced from seed brought from the State 
of Guerrero. It does not grow wild in this State. The first years but little trouble 
was experienced from the Cotton Worm ; but each year they have given more trouble, 
especially if cotton is planted a^ain on the same ground. The prevailing direction 
of the wind during the months from March to July is from the east in the morning, 
and from the southwest in the afternoon. — [E. G. Kclton, United States Consul. 
Manzaniixo, Mex., December 26, 1879. 
The larger worm or caterpillar (Anomis xylina) has made it appearance on this coast 
three times during the last twenty years, in I860, in 1873, and again in 1878. It is a 
dark green looking worm, with white and black lines, and destroys the cotton plant 
by devouring the leaves. It is as yet impossible for me to find out the origin or even 
habits of this worm. I have investigated the supposed causes of its appearance, bnt 
without success ; the farmers here have not the slightest idea about it. An apparent 
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