544 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 16 
THE PINK BOLLWORM OF THURBERIA, THURBERIPHAGA 
CA TALIN A 
By J. L. Webb, Entomologist, Southern Field Crop Insect Investigations, Bureau of 
Entomology, Department of Agriculture 
Abstract 
The pink boll worm of Thurberia constitutes a great menace to the cotton grown 
in the valleys of Arizona below the range of Thurberia. An account of the rearing 
of the adult is given, including notes on parasites of the larval stage. A list of 
other Thurberia insects collected by C. H. T. Townsend is also included. 
During the summer of 1913, Dr. W. D. Pierce and Dr. A. W. Morrill 
made an investigation of the insects associated with the Thurberia 
plant in several localities in Arizona. In their published report 1 they 
make mention of “the Thurberia Boll Worm” and give brief descriptions 
of all stages except the adult which was at that time unknown. 
In December of the same year, E. A. Schwarz and H. S. Barber in¬ 
vestigated the status of the Thurberia plant and the newly discovered 
Thurberia boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis thurberiae in the mountains 
of southern Arizona. 
Besides the weevil they found abundant evidence of the infestation of 
Thurberia bolls by a species of bollworm which they called the “pink 
bollworm.” Both these men expressed the view that the pink boll 
worm (of Thurberia) constituted a greater menace to the cotton grown 
in the valleys below the range of Thurberia than did the Thurberia boll 
weevil. 
In August 1918 Dr. C. H. T. Townsend was sent by the Bureau of 
Entomology to the Santa Catalina mountains near Tucson, Arizona, for 
the purpose of rearing the adult form. His report follows: 
“Permanent camp was made August 14, 1918, in the upper end of Sabino Basin, 
Altitude 3,550 ft. This camp was well situated for the work, being surrounded by 
Thurberia not only close by but also in all directions at both higher and lower levels. 
The plant was noted from 3,000 ft. up to 4,800 ft. in Sabino Canyon and around the 
sides of the Sabino Basin. Above 4,800 ft. it was not found anywhere, the pinyon 
beginning at that level. The altitudes were taken by aneroid. 
Pink Bollworm of Thurberia. 
Four hundred forty infested bolls were collected from August 28 to October 4, 
the bulk of these being found during the last two weeks of September. Not count¬ 
ing a number of worms that escaped from time to time from the rearing receptacles, 
142 bollworms were secured from these bolls. 
Twenty-two of these worms transformed to pupae in the earth. These were 
taken with great care from the earth October 13 and packed in cotton in vials for 
transportation to Washington. 
The 142 bollworms yielded 41 hymenopterous parasites, belonging to at least 3 
species as follows: 
Washington Ent. Soc. Vol. xvi, pp. 14-23. 
