The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-03-09
Cotton Worm as Bad rs Weeyil.

Washington, D. c.. Feb. 27.-The
specialists of the Department. Of Ag-
rlculture are giving almost as much
attention to the ravages of the cotton
boil worm as tc the injuries that have
resulted aud may result from the cot
ton boil weevil. It is declared today
by eminent scientists of the depart
ment that the cotton boil worm, al
though an old and we'll known insect,
If responsible for the loss OF millions
of dollars each year to the cotton plan
rers of the South. AS early ss lS4I
it. was found in the cotton fields
around Tallahassee, 'Flc&ida, and in
the course Of few years became quite
destructive. It is the principal insect
enemy of cotton unless the cotton boil
weevil should take first place. AL
though called tho cotton boil worm the
insect likes nothing better than young
corn, and when it can obtain corn
does not bother cotton. Nearly every
farmer, amateur or professional, re-
calls the insect lying in The top Of
ears of young corn and gorging itself
on the juicicst part of tie corn.
The cotton boil worm did so much
injury in Texas few years ago that
Congress provided for careful inves-
tigation of the pest, and experts are
just now completing their reports.
The experts estimate that in 1903 the
boil worm caused the loss of approx
mately 10000 bales of cotton in Texas
alone. At valuation of $50 bale
this would mean total lose Of 81
100000. If to this amount should be
added the value of the cotton seed the
total loss would easily exceed So, ,O0O,-
600. The loss in 1902 was equally as
great. Should the losses throughout
the cotton regions Of tho South be
added the number of millions would
be larger. Could anyone estimate the
loss sustained by corn and other crops
from the same werm the total would
be something enormous. The worm
is found in many other countries Of
the world, in fact, practically all of
them.
The boil worm eggs are easily de-
tected on the fresh silk of corn. They
are oval in shape, whitish or yellow
ish in color. The next stage is the
larvae. AS the larvae grow they be-
come most voracious, and, when we'll
fed, grow rapidly. A full grown larvae
measures from II to II inches long,
as every farmer knows. The body is
stout and tapers slightly toward the
head and caudal extremities. When
full grown the worm leaves its food,
burrows below the surface 2 to 5
inches and constructs cell, ready to
allow the exit Of the moth. The adult
worm is the moth, which every child
sees without knowing. The trans
formation from egg to adult may be
accomplished in about thirty days, 80
that the pests multiply fast enough.
The worm, as stated, is omniverous
and feeds upon many plants. It's irst
choice is corn and its next the cotton
boil. Because Of its existence in SO
many parts Of the world it is probably
che most destructive insect known.
So soon as corn begins to harden the
worm turns to the young bolls Of cot
ton, and material injury to cot
ton occurs only after the corn has be-
come too old to furnish suitable food.
Owing to their habits of burrowing
into the ears Of young corn and cotton
bolls the worms enjoy considerable
freedom from the attack of parasitic,
predaceous insects and other natural
checks. The worms cat each other in
their younger stages and that accounts