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[52] REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
THE TWO SPECIES.* 
So far it has not been attempted to distinguish between the two species of larvae 
that affect cotton-plants in Brazil. As a rule, the people of the cotton region call 
them all " cotton caterpillars," and I saw but one person, a farmer, who, when the 
two larvae were shown him, recognized the fact that they were different, and who as- 
sured me that the s was the " true cotton caterpillar," as he called it. The b species, 
he said, also devoured the cotton, but they never seemed to be so plentiful. How 
much credence is to be given to this statement, it is impossible to say, until further 
observation shall have been made. 
It is not to be expected that the planters would observe carefully the first appear- 
ance of the larvae, or that they should notice their presence at all uutil they become 
dangerous; and such is the case. This also explains their assertions that the worms 
appear in April and May. Up to the 22d of February the planters about Bonito in- 
sisted that there were no caterpillars in the cotton-fields, although they had been found 
by us for more than a month. 
At Bonito, January 8, 1883, the eggs and young larvae of b were first found, and the 
first moth came out January 23. The collecting in the field was continued from Janu- 
ary 8 till February 22, and the moths were bred as rapidly as possible. But it was 
not until the 6th of February that 8 came out, just two weeks after the appearance 
of the first b. 
Up to February 22, there were, in all, about 539t specimens of these moths bred. Of 
this number only 48 were 8, all of which came out between February 6 and February 
22. Aside from these that were bred indoors, either from larvae one or two days 
old, or from the eggs, there were only three 8, and twenty-two b captured. Every ef- 
fort was made to capture both kinds of moths, but baiting and the use of lights to 
attract them were quite unavailing. A few &'s were taken along with large numbers 
of noctuidst that frequented the flowers of the Cleome heptaphylla that grew abun- 
dantly about our house. Out of the 25 thus captured, only three were s. 
The eggs from which the moths were reared were found on the inferior sides of the 
cotton leaves, while the larvae were taking by beating the bushes, none of them be- 
ing rejected. 
The eggs and young larvae when taken were placed in breeding cages together, and 
fed until they pupated, when the pupae were removed to other boxes. It was noticed 
that the s's generally webbed ivp in the gauze covering of the breeding-boxes, while 
the fc's preferred the bottom of the boxes and the cotton leaves or bits of paper placed 
there for them. 
The time passed in the pupa state appears to be the same with one as with the 
other species. Of the 143 observations in regard to the time from the day of pupat- 
ing till the issue of the perfect insect, 108 were made upon b, and 32 upon s. In the 
case of the latter, the insect remained in the papa state as follows : 
Days in the pupa : Cases observed. 
11 14 
10 8 
12 5 
13 2 
14 1 
16 1 
9 1 
In the case of 6, the time passed in the pupa state was as follows : 
Days in the pupa : Cases observed. 
11 44 
10 27 
12 24 
9 8 
8 5 
13 1 
14 1 
16 1 
* Of the insects hero referred to, those marked b include a very variable species, 
which is Anomi8 derogata, while those marked 8 are the genuine Aleiiu xijlina (Say). 
For further particulars see note (58). 
t Fifteen others were bred at Bahia, of which three were *. 
X Mr. Koebele, unaided, caught in the cyanide bottle more than a hundred iriothson 
the Cleome flowers almost every night after February 8. One evening ho caught 200, 
another 228, and another 439. 'These moths were taken between 8 and 11 o'clock, al ter 
which hour but few were seen. On several other evenings he caught over 200 in the 
same manner. 
