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Recognizing the Good Bugs in Cotton - Texas Is Cotton Country ...

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10 days later and live for several weeks.<br />

Adults overw<strong>in</strong>ter.<br />

Lespesia females land on <strong>the</strong> caterpillar<br />

and deposit <strong>the</strong>ir eggs on <strong>the</strong> caterpillar’s<br />

body. The fly eggs hatch <strong>in</strong> about 20 m<strong>in</strong>utes<br />

and <strong>the</strong> grubs tunnel <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> armyworm. The<br />

grubs feed <strong>in</strong>ternally for 10-16 days, f<strong>in</strong>ally<br />

caus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> death of <strong>the</strong> armyworm. Mature<br />

grubs emerge from <strong>the</strong> dead host and pupate.<br />

Adults flies live for several weeks and produce<br />

about 100-200 eggs.<br />

An adult<br />

tach<strong>in</strong>id fly<br />

Univ. Florida, Entomology Dept.<br />

87

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