[lfi] REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
the unpoisoned fruit. By poisoning the nectar glands moths were killed under net- 
tings, but the result was not as satisfactory as with poisoned fruit. Although I do 
not think much practical benefit can be secured by attempts to kill the moths late in 
the season, yet, in view of its cheapness and effectiveness, baiting them with poisoned 
fruit seems preferable to any device in which lamps are used. Whether or not the 
moths of the early brood can be destroyed by poisoning dishes of fruit, as for exam- 
ple dried apples soaked, and exposed in the fields, I am not prepared to say, but I 
think it more likely to succeed than any of the lamp traps that have been recom- 
mended. 
Yeast. — The results of experiments with yeast are : (1) in the field, yeast sprayed 
with an atomizer upon feeding larva?, and sprinkled upon the leaves with a brush, 
had no effect during either dry or wet weather; (2) yeast poured upon pupae in their 
webs, no effect, the moths subsequently disclosed; (3) in a very foul tin box in which 
frass, &c, had been allowed to accumulate, the worms neglected and iu unhealthy 
condition, eleven caterpillars two-thirds grown were sprayed August 18 with yeast 
diluted with water to the thickoess of milk ; the diseased condition of the worms was 
immediately aggravated. Two died in twelve hours ; August 20, three more had died ; 
August 21. five worms alive, all unhealthy, but one webbing up; all fiually died ; (4) 
a tin box containing healthy larvae, raised from the eggs, and ten days old, was thor- 
oughly sprayed three or four days in succession, but box kept clean, fresh food aud 
air supplied every day. All completed their metamorphoses, unaffected by the yeast ; 
(5) three glass jars and several tin and wooden boxes containing healthy larva? and 
pupa? of Aletia sprayed several times in succession, without any effect. 
Early in the season it was my habit to freshen the air and contents of my breeding 
cages daily with pure water sprayed in by an atomizer. Late in August I found many 
of my boxes infected so that the contained insects died, or the contents became moldy 
after spraying with water, aud I was obliged to abandon this practice. At this time, 
if yeast and water were used, the effect was simply to hasten the appearance of mold 
and the diseases of the insects confined in close boxes. 
the boll worm (Heliothis armujera) Hiibn. 
I have often heard the statement made by planters that the Boll Worm did them 
more injury than the Cotton Worm (Aletia). I think, however, the amount of injury 
done is frequently exaggerated, the dropping of the squares and young bolls from 
many causes being often attributed to the attacks of Heliothis. During my season's 
work I nowhere found it abundant, although everywhere present. The life history 
of Heliothis ha ving been thoroughly studied by Professor Riley and others, I did not 
give very much time to it. I found, however, that the eggs are laid singly, more often 
upon the leaf than upon the involucres of the flowers. They hatch in three to four 
days. The young worms feed at first upon the leaves, then upon petals of flowers, 
and finally upon the bolls. I, however, found comparatively few eating entirely into 
large bolls, and believe the worm sometimes eats only leaves and flower petals through- 
out its life. As before noted, they frequently devour the pupa of Aletia. In confine- 
ment the larval period lasted about twenty days, and the pupa twelve days. 
Tbe only parasites are Trichogramma pretiosa and a Tachinid fly which also preys 
upon Aletia and has already been noticed. 
Very respecfully, 
H. G. HUBBARD. 
Prof. C. V. Riley. 
