Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-09-30
a tsrEIId np.
FROM THE coNcoRDIA INTELLIG ENcER.
THE COTTON WORM.
(Noctua GoSSippii.)


The natural history Of this destructive
enemy Of the Cotton plant, is not we'll
known. Some of the general principles,
applicable to the class to which 1t belongs,
are generally known; and it is possible
that some few naturalists may have traced
the habits of this individual, more closely
and carefully, during this season than be-
fore. 1t is fortunate for science, and
hence for the human welfare, If this be
true. For it is worse than folly to seek
to destroy this, or any other destructive
insect, without strict knowledge OF lis
habits.
The writer has been devoting careful
attention, during the month, to this sub
iect: and at proper time, Will make pub
tic the result of his labors, in full detail
Whether they will point out any means OF
DESTROYING the cotton worm, or OF avoiding
It's destructive ravages, remains to be seen.
| confess that am not very sangulne.
AS many errors are circulating, regard
ing the natural history of the Noctua Cos
sippii, it may not be amiss to state few
facts.
Moru.-The motiIis blush brown CO.
lor on his back, rests with his wings halt
nntsnread. is three fourths of an inch long
from his head 20 the tip of the wing, and
fve.eiohts of an inch across the base OF
the wings when at rest. He lives from 4
TO 7 DAYS; the female deposits her eggs IN
the last days of her life.
EGGs.-The egg is deposited beneath
the leaves of cotton, (and, so far as | cal
find, nowhere else.) 1t is very minut
green speck, scarcely distingulsha7bIo iron
the leaf, so small and so perfectly gree
is it. The eggs are never found In clus
tiers; but solitary, though many occur o
the same leaf, sometimes ten or even TWEEN
~, By dissection, find from 200 to 3O
eggs in one female. The eggs are yer
soft, and easily destroyed. They vIvit
and the worm is produced, within 4S hours
under ordinary circumstances.
WoRM.-The worm crawls first as
measurer, eats on the underside of the lea
not perforating it entirely, for days.
The fourth day is half an inch long, an
can eat though the leaf. From this tin
he is very destructive, and for 6 or 7 da
oats almost continuously during dayligl
and attains length of 3D. inches.
the 10Th or 18th day, he winds up in c
coon, spinning silk as strong as that
the silk worm, though very small IN guam
tv. AS soon as he has drawn the Il
close about him, he commences contra
mo. apparently by voluntary effort, and
about IS hours takes the chrysalls To-
having cast off his epidermis; and asst
ed a dark brown she'll.
The color of the cotton worm is Varlt
and is no index to a difference of spec
The great majority have broad bl
strines along the back, sometimes div
aIonu IFS centre by fine white line.
od;acent stripes on either side is yell
;sb Green. with fine black specks, (
each of which grows fine black
from one tenth to one fifth OF an inch /
Some are wholly green, striped only
deeper and lighter shades.
He has Is legs, 6 on each side; the
six spring from the first three rings,
to the head. These are terminated
sharp ,alons or hooks. Next, two 10
rings or joints succeed, without LEI
Next, four rings succeed, with eight
terminated with soft feet; then two
and an imperfect one, are without feet
next the two hind legs which are Il
than the others, terminated with soft
by which he adheres with much sirens
the leaf. He is without eyes, and $
10 feel his way, to his proper food.
He feeds on no other plant exec
omarantus spinosus, and on this,
when starving. lie makes a COCO
any green leaf or grass.
CaRYsAL1s.-T'he chrysalls is hve-e
of an inch long, terminated with c
rings, having a veT0a SI.. :, motion Unnon,
remains from to 10 days In cocoon
comes out, full grown motn' rel
fly in 10 minutes after Parturi'i0n'