A.^ 
•* 
baaed August ;, 1914. 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
L.O. HOWARD, Entomologist and Chief op Bureau. 
I . 
THE PINK BOLL WORM. 
Hv W. 1). Httnter, 
In Charge 0/ Southern Field Crop Insect Investigations, Bureau 0/ Entomology . 
INTRODUCTION. 
Considerable attention has recently been attracted to the pink boll- 
worm (GelecMa gossypiella Saund.) (fig. 1 ) on account of the possibility 
of its introduction into the United States. This statement has been 
prepared to make available such general information as has been 
called for from time to time by planters and manufacturers. 
As is well known, many of the most injurious insect pests of the 
United States have been imported from foreign countries. There 
seems no doubt that 
the |>ink bollworm 
would be able likewise 
to establish itself if it 
were introduced. It 
would be very likely 
to add greatly to 
the damage sustained 
by the cotton crop 
of this country from 
insects, which now amounts to about fifty millions of dollars per 
annum. That the introduction of the insect is easily possible is due 
to certain features of its life history which will be described later. As 
a matter of fact, in 1912 a shipment of 500 pounds of Egyptian cotton 
Beed which was heavily infested by the pink bollworm reached 
Arizona. On account of the effective control law in that State and 
the watchfulness of Dr. A. W. Morrill, the State entomologist, the 
whole shipment was destroyed by fire. Otherwise it is extremely 
probable that a new and very destructive cotton insect would have 
been introduced. This would have been particularly unfortunate 
Note.— This circular gives information about an insect that damages cotton crops and whose impor- 
tation into this country is to be guarded against. It is of especial interest to both cotton growers and 
manulacturers. 
51617'— 14 
Fig. 1.— Pink bollworm (Gelechla gossypiella): Full-grown larva, 
lateral view. Much enlarged. (Original.) 
