INFLUENCE OF WINDS ON ALETIA. 
85 
for the worms seldom, if ever, die from excessive heat in this country, 
except as they fall upon the heated surface of the ground. 
The indirect influences of wet weather, first pointed out by the writer in 
July, 1 879, in some remarks before the Mobile Cotton Exchange,* are even 
more potent in favoring the development of the worms. They consist 
in the comparative immunity which the pest enjoys during such weather 
from its numerous natural enemies, presently to be mentioned, all of 
which are prevented during wet weather from working with the energy 
and activity they display during dry weather. This holds especially 
true of birds and ants, the latter of which not only hie to their nests 
during such weather, but are often drowned in couutless numbers in 
open fields during heavy showers. Few who have not carefully ob- 
served the facts can appreciate the results of the non-working, even for 
a few short days, of these natural checks to a species so remarkably 
prolific and quick of growth as our Aletia.* 4 
It may also be remarked in this connection that wet weather is un- 
favorable to the poisoning of the worms, and prevents the working of 
cotton, which working, as will be shown further on, also helps to destroy 
them. 
Such are our conclusions and the reasons therefor. One of our cor- 
respondents has, however, made the statement that in his locality a dry 
season may be followed by worms, while a wet season may not; and lie 
is inclined to lay great stress upon the effects of east and southeast 
winds in bringing the worms. We quote herewith one of his letters 
which we formerly published in the American Entomologist, Vol. Ill, 
pp. 105-100 (April, 18S0): 
Influence op win ds on aletia. — I discover your leaning towards tho theory that 
In thiH latitudo the Aletia hibernates, and that the advent of it on the summer's cotton 
growthfis from the hibernated moth of the vicinage 
I have heretofore expressed both to yourself and to Professor Comstock the result 
of my observations, to the effect that a dry season — that is, one not too wet for cotton — 
may be followed by the caterpillar, in this latitude, in such numbers as to do great 
injury to the crop; and that a wet season — that is, one in which the rainfall lessens 
the maturity of the fruit — may not be followed by the caterpillar in sufficient numbers 
to injure the crop. 
I desire to direct afresh your observation to the inf. uence of fhe winds on the Aletia. 
For some years past this has been my own observation on that subject, viz : 
(1) At any season of the year the prevalence of southeast winds for two or three days 
consecutively, regardless of wet or dry weather, will be followed in fifteen to twenty 
days after the prevalence stated of those winds by the moth of the Aletia in large 
uumbers. 
(S) If the winds prevail from any other course than east and south of east, after 
May and until October, we do not, in this latitude, find the caterpillar in numbers 
sufficient to injure the crop of cotton. 
(3) Last year (1879) I made note of the following facts : The month of May was dry in 
this vicinity ; so dry that corn was retarded in growth, and everywhere unpromising; 
tost and southeast winds prevailed; ergo (?) early in June the cotton caterpillar was re- 
ported in large numbers in Montgomery and Dallas Counties ! 
* Mobile Register, July 9, 1879. 
