INSECTS. 
71 
case, from the thorax to the upper margin, where they form an acute 
angle. The legs are yellowish-green, the hinder pair being much 
longer than the others, and furnished with bristles on the tibia. In 
the larva state, they are able to leap with great agility ; but it is only 
in the perfect state that they are able to fly, the under-wings being 
hidden by the wing-cases, and not perfectly developed in the larvaj or 
pup*. There are several species of these insects found upon cotton, 
which it will not be necessary here to describe, as their natural his- 
tory and habits are nearly the same. 
In using the lantern already described, it was found that thousands 
of these small insects were attracted from some grape-vines in an ad- 
joining field. The use of fires or lights may therefore be recom- 
mended to destroy them, when they become very numerous, although, 
as regards the cotton, they are not often found on it in numbers suf- 
ficient to do much harm. 
THE COTTON CATERPILLAR 
(Noctua zylina.) 
The leaves of the plant are sometimes entirely devoured by what is 
commonly known to planters as the “cotton caterpillar,” or “cotton 
army-worm.” (PI. VI. fig. 5.) It does not appear every year in 
immense numbers, but at uncertain intervals. This season, (1855,) 
it first made its appearance in the vicinity of Tallahassee about 
the month of August, on the plantation of Mr. Hunter, and then 
spread gradually through the rest of the plantations in that re- 
gion. In October, it had already committed considerable ravages 
in several of the cotton-fields, not so severe, however, as had been 
anticipated, though the crops on several plantations were somewhat 
injured. 
The perfect insect, or fly, when at rest, is of a triangular shape, the 
head forming one, and the extremities of the wings the other two 
angles. The color of the upper-wings is reddish-grey, a dark spot 
with a whitish centre appearing in the middle of each. The under- 
wings are of a dark reddish-grey. The moth of this caterpillar loses 
much of its greyish cast when it becomes older, and the down 
has been rubbed from the wings. It then assumes more of a reddish 
tinge. 
The perfect flies, or moths, are easily attracted by lights, and may 
be found resting in the day-time on the walls or ceilings of rooms, 
attracted there, no doubt, by the candles or lamps on the evening be- 
fore. If undisturbed, they will remain motionless during the day; 
but, as night approaches, they fly oil’ with much vigor and strength. 
When in the open air, they may be found among and under the leaves 
of the cotton-plant, as well as those of the weeds which surround the 
plantation. The eggs are deposited principally on the under sides of 
the leaves, but often upon the outer calyx ; and I have even found 
them, when very numerous, upon the stem itself. 
