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i)

JUN 11 1912

DOMINiON OF CANADA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
EXPERIMENTAL FARMS

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY

Bulletin No. 3

CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS

BT

ARTHUR GIBSON

Chief Assistant EntomologLt

BULLETIN No. 70

Published by direction of the Hon. MARTIN BURRELL, Minister of Aflriculf.

re, Ot;?.wa.

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DOMINION OF CANADA

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

EXPERIMENTAL FARMS

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY

Bulletin No. 3

CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS

BY

ARTHUR GIBSON

Chief Assidanl Entomologist

BinXETIN No. 70

Published by diraotion of the Hon. MARTIN BURRELL, Mir jter of Agriculture, Ottawa.

OTTAWA
GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU
1912

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Dominion EnUmuAogitt: C. Qordop Hewitt, D. 8e.

Chi*S Aanttant Entomotonii't Arthur Gibson.

Attidanl Entomologiafor Forett Inteeta J. M. Swaine, M . Sc., B.S.A.

Field Offieen R. C. Treheme, B.8.A.

G. E. Sanders, B.S.A.

J. D. Tothill, B.8.A.

W. A. R068, B.S.A.

G. Beauiieu, B.A., LL.B.

Intpeetor of Indian Orekarda T. Wilson.

Seeretariet J. A. Letoumeau, —

Superintendent! of Fumigation Statione A. K. Leith, Winnipeg, Man.

H. E. Goold, St. John, N.B.

P. H. Dupuis, St. John's, P.Q.
. . C. Wright, Windsor, Ont.

0. N. Gamer, Niagara Falb, Ont.
Laboratory dt Apiary A$ti»tant: J. I. Beaulne.

I f

To the Honourable,

The Minister of Agrii-uHure,

Sib,— I have the honour to submit U /our approval Bulletin No. 70 of the

Experimental Farm Series (and No. 3 o* le Division of Entomology) en»it.M

"Cutworms and Army-worms" preparea by Mr. Arthur Gibson, Ch' dist-
ant Entomologist,

Practically every man having to do with the cultivation of the soil iu Canada
has suffered in ^ ae degree from Cutworms. In very many cases the losses
sustained might Lave been materially reduced, if not altogether prevented, had
information such as contained in this bulletin been at his disposal. The issuing
of this publication should, therefore, prove of great value to Canadian Agricul-
ture.

I have the honour to be,
Sir
Your obedient servant,

J. H. GRISDALE,
Dirtctor, Dominion Experimental Farmt.
Ottaw.\, February 28th, 1912.

18896- li

Mr. J. H. Grisdale,

Director, Exptrimental Farms Branch,

Department of Agriculture,

Ottawa.

Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith for publication a Bulletin (No. 3
of the Division of Entomology) on "Cutworms and Army-worms" which has
been written at my request by Mr. Arthur Gibson, Chief Assistant Entomologist.

Every grower of field and garden crops, whether he cultivates a few square
yards of ground or several hundred acres, experiences more or less serious losses
owing to the presence of these common insects. Consequently, the information
contained in this Bulletin will be of value to a very large number of people.

It may be pointed out that this Bulletin includes many new and hitherto
unpublished observations on the life-histories of several species, to the study of
which Mr. Gibson has devoted much time for a considerable number of years.
Such observations are of great importance especially as they indicate to the far-
mer when the appearance of the cutworms may be expected and the length of
time they and their attacks may persist. Remarkable though it may appear, the
information which we possess concerning the life-histories and habits of several
of our commoner species of noctuid caterpillars is still ver>' meagre and we are
endeavouring gradually to fill in these gaps in our knowledge.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,

February, 1912.

C. GORDON HEWITT,

Dominion EntomdodiU,

CONTENTS.

Summary 9

Introduction 10

Nature of injuries 11

Life-history 11

Natural enemies of Cutworms 12

Methods of Controlling Cutworms 13

Preventive Measiues 13

Remedial Measures 14

The commoner species of Cutworms 16

The Red-backed Cutworm 15

The Greasy or Black Cutworm 16

The Variegated Cutworm 17

The Dark-sided Cutworm 19

The White Cutworm 20

The W-marked Cutworm 21

The Spotted Cutworm 21

Tlie Glassy Cutworm 22

The Yellow-headed Cutworm 23

The Clover Cutworm 24

The Dingy Cutworm 28

Little known Cutworms 25

Army-worms 25

The Army-worm 20

The Black Army-worm 28

CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS.

SUMMARY.

Cutworms and army-worms are coctuid caterpillars which are more or less
abundant every year and which, as a class, rank t importance with our worst
insect pests. These caterpillars are smooth and in shape cylindrical and have
sixteen feet; in colour, most of them resemble the soil in which they hide during
the day.

The life-histories of even our commoner cutworms are by no means complete.
Some hibernate in the pupal state, or as half-grown caterpillars, and others in
the egg or adult state. .\ single female moth lays several hundreds of eggs.
These are deposited in clusters on the leaves of weeds, grasses, shrubs, etc. When
full grown, the cutworms are about an inc) .nd a half in length, and enter the
ground to the depth of an inch or two to t: I'^form to the pupal condition, the
adult moths emerging, as a rule, in June, July and August.

Under normal conditions, cutworms and army- worms feed at night. As the
name "cutworms" indicates, these caterpillars cut off plants near the surface of
the ground, or a little below it. Some kinds climb fruit and other trees uid des-
troy the buds or young fruit, etc. Others feed entirely below the surface of the
ground, attacking the roots of grasses and other plants. Cutworms when they
become excessively abundant march ahead in true army-worm habit.

The destiu..' on wrought every year throughout Canada by these insectb
amounts Lo a large sum of money. In some seasons when they occur in extra-
ordina''y abundance, this loss totals hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Clean cultivation is ^n important factor in the control of cutworms. This
includes the collection and burning of all refuse remaining after the removal of
crops, and the destruction of weeds. Infested land should be ploughed deeply in
the fall These methods destroy many hibernating cat^.pillsrs and pupte in
the soil.

For the protection of plants which are set out annually, cylinders niade of
tin or paper may be placed around the stems of the plants. As the surf a^-e-f ced-
ing cutworms cannot climb such bands, their attacks in this way will be prevented.

Birds, beneficial insects i nd parasitic diseases, help materially ^o coi '
cutworms. Farmers, horticr turists and others should aid in the worx of
iwting our insectivorous birds. They are amcng the best friends the fai.. .
has, and this fact should be more fully realised.

Poisoned bran, that is, bran poisoned with Paris green, is the best remedy
for the destruction of cutworms and should be applied immediately their presence
is detected. Fresh bundles of clover, etc., which have been sprayed with a
strong Paris green or arsenate of lead mixture, are also very useful and ^ihould be
placed, at short intervals apart, throughout an infested field.

0

I

10

For army-worms, and cutworms which assume the marching habit, furrows
should be ploughed across the fields ahead of the cater .illani. In these furrows,
at mteryals of about ten feet apart, post holes should ' .e dog. The caterpiUars
when they reach the furrows, wander along them and fall into the holes, where
they naay be crushed by means of a post or a piece of fence rail, or a small quantity
of coal oil may be poured over them.

CUTWORMS

INTRODUCTION.

Cutworms cause more widespread injuries and are responsible for n^ire in-
quinra on the part of farmers, market garoeners and others who cultivuie the
soil, than most classes of injurious insects. Taking them as a class, they rank in
importance which such well-known pests as the San Jose Scale, the Codling Moth
Bjod the Hessian Fly— all of which are among our most destructive insect enemies.
There are certainly few insects which, year after year, do such widespread damage
to garden and field crops as the various caterpillars known commonly as ciU-
worms. The annual loss occasioned by t} , te insects in Canada amounts to hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars. In one year (1900), the Variegated Cutworm ak>ne
destroyed m British Columbia crops to the value of $168,000, and, if we add the
losses in the same season in Manitoba and Ontario, the figures should easily reach
$200,000. Chittenden has estimated that the total damage caused by this cut-
worm in the above year in the United States and Canada amounted to the enor-
mous sum of $2,500,000.

The moths of these cutworms belong to the familly Noctuida, of which in
North America there are over two thousand different kinds. In Canada, fortu-
nately, not more than about twenty of these have ever appeared in numbers as
cutworms, to do serious damage to growing plants. The moths >i general are
similar in appearance, being of a grayish or dull-brownish colour, the front pair of
wings being usually crossed with four or five irregular lines. On each of these
wings, also, are two characteristic marLi, the one nearest the body, about half
way down the wiug, being round or orbicular in shape and the other nearer the
tip of the wing, larger and reniform, or kidney-shaped. In size, they expand
from about an inch to two inchco in width, when the wings are spread. When at
rest, the wings he folded over the body. Being nocturnal in habit, they are sel-
dom seen during the day time, but in the early evening they appear in search of
the nectar of flowers. Thej are readily attracted to lights and, for thU reason,
the brigh* lights, such as are used along the city and town streets, are often visited
by cntomolof sts for the purpose of securing the moths for study. At night the
eyes of these moths shine brightly, and owing to this and their nocturnal habits
they were given the popular name of "owlet-moths".

The eggs of these moths are, in general, similar in aiipearance, being pale in
colour, dome-shaped and less than one millimeter in diameter. If examined
under a lens, they are seen to be beautifully ribhetl. the ribs being joined by indis-
tinct cross-ridges.

In Eugjand outwornis arc known 09 Surface Grubs" or 'aurface CaterpiUan". In Oermanv
they receive tha popular names of "Erdraupen", "Wurielraupen" and "Ora»rauDen" wUch m« li
trnnslated respectively as "Qrouad Caterpillars", "Turnip Caterpillars" and "Oraa. Catei pillani"
knoVnT-I^ nXSiW'. ' '"^ °"''"^ " ^"*' '*-"-"P«^o: ""e moThS •« iSno^ly

11

The caterpillars, or cutworms, of these moths, are also, usually, nocturnal
in habit. When conditions are not normal, howc /er, as for instance where there
is a lack of food, their feeding habits become changed and they feed by day aa
well as by night. In general, cutworms are similar in appearance, being smooth,
cylindrical caterpillars about an inch or more in length and in colour of some dull
shade, similar to the ground. When disturbed, they coil themselves up. During
the day they hide just beneath the surface of the soil.

NATURE OF INJURIES.

Injury by cutworms is mostly effected in spring, when plants are young and
succulent, bat tliere are a few spec'.es which occur in destnictive numbers as late
as the middle of summer. As a n.le, however, cutworm injury ceases before the
end of June. As their popular name indicates, these 'Caterpillars have the habit
of cutting off the plants, during the night, near the .urface of the ground or a
little below it. When they are present in numbers in a garden or field, the plants
will soon be seen to have been c"t, or eaten off, and if an examination is made, the
cutworm will most likely be discovered in the soil, coiled up and just below the
surface. In many instances, the young plant will be found to have been drawn
partly into the ground. Not all cutworms, however, feed in this manner; some
climb up into fruit trees or such plants as currants, gooseberries, tomatoes, etc.,
and feed upon the foliage or the fruit. In fact, when they are excessively abun-
dant, they will attack anything green and juicy. In such years some kinds assume
thr r:'irching habit, so characteristic of the army-worm. In seasons of severe in-
festations it is often necessary, v ^IcoS the proper precautions are taken, to resow,
, replant a second, or even a third, time before a crop can be secured.

LIFE-HISTORY.

As cutworms vary considerably in the tim of their appearance in the differ-
ent stages — egg, larva, pupa and adult — and as such appearance, too, is often
irregular from year to year, it is not possible to state their life-history in general.
Some pass the winter in the pupal state, or as half-grown caterpillars, and others
in the egg or adult state. The moths of the chief injurious species appear in
June, July and August.

1

I'lj I r,gji ma'* ■! Prriilrama saucia on ejwpea leaf. anJ ?in<l" "ZH much

enlarged, on right. (Chittenden. Bull. 29, N.S., VW. of Kat.,
U.S. Di'pt. Agr.)

The eggs of cutworm moths, as a rule, are laid in clu.sters or mas-ses on the
leaves of trees, shrubs, weeds and grasse;', etc. They have even been found on
window panes and on the putty, as well as on clothes which had been hung out

12

Fig. 2.— Earthen cell and
pupa.

Y* T.u ^° *^* ''"'t *** *''* Variable Cutworm, MameOra atianHea Grt., w« have
found the eggs ou the upper surface of a honeysuckle leaf, in a compact heap of
fiT iT'^ ^^^^" Bpecies (in confinement) laid eggs singly or in clusten of
from 3 to 20. The number of eggs laid by a female v ries considerably. In
some clusters there will be less than one hundred eggs, in others, ovar 700: in fact,
a female of one specira is known to have laid over 1,000 ^gs. The eggs of most
of thrae moths are laid m early or mid-summer. Those of some species, however,
may be deposited as early as the end of April.

When a cutworm becomes full-grown, it enters
the earth and makes an earthen cell in which it changes
to a brownish or dull reddish pupa, and when this hap-
pens in June or July the moth usually emerges in about
two weeks' time. Some cutworms, however, do not
change to pup® imihediately they complete their
earthen cell, but remain as larva for some days, the
actual period often varying, and the moths in such
_,^. , ^. . , *^*^^3 ^° °o* emerge for three or four, or even more,
weeks, from the time the caterpillar became full-grown and entered the earth.

NATURAL ENEMIES OF CUTWORMS.

There are many different kinds of beneficial insects which prey upon cut-
worms and help very materially to keep these pests in check. Some of these are
parasitic msects, laying their eggs upon the bodies of the cutworms, xhese eggs
„!li?i tk u*'*' ^'°^^ mjfgots or grubs feed internally upon the living caterpiUar
until they have ultimately destroyed it. Others are predaceous and are constantly
hunting for cutworms to devour. One of the most important of these latter is
the l-le^ Ground Beetle, Calosoma adidum Fab., the grub of -..hich is known
as the Cutworm Lion. This beetle, both in the adult and the grub state,
destroj's large numbers of cutworms. It is brownish-black in colour with three
rows of coppery-red pits on each wing cover. In length it is about seven-eighths

7ur!l!Sl,*'LuK°°^if' ™P°rt^^°* fd^'^y « the black Ground Wasp, Amm^hila
|uc<uo«o Smith. This wasp digs the cutworms out and stores them in its nest as
food for its j'oung grubs.

Fig. 3—WinUiemia i-iuttuUa fly,
with larva at left and puparium
at right: fore part of the body of
Army-worm with' taoUna eggi
attached below — lomawhat en-
larged. (After Comitock.)

Fig. 4 — Calosiima calidum; a, larra-
Jj beetle. Natural aiie. (After
Riley.)

In addition to the parasitic and predaceous insects which destroy cutworm,
some of our native birds are very fond of these fat. juicy caterpillars^ 15^3
of many of our wild birds as insect destroyers, should be more and more rocoSz
ed, and farmers, gardeners, etc. should do all they i^ssiblv can to nrotr? nfJ^
from being shot and their nests from being robbed.^ fcTSeX L.£k! B. ue Ja "

i.

13

Catbird, House Wren, etc., destroy every year large numbers of cutworms. Even
the much abused Crow is extremely valuable, as irsecta constitute its principal
food during spring and early summer, and of the insects eaten, cutworms form a
most important part.

Parasitic fungous diseases, such as species of Empusa, help to reduce out-
breaks of cutworms. These caterpillars are also subject to bacterial diseases.

METHODS OF CONTROLLING CUTWORMS.

Preventtve Measures.

Clean etiUtvation. The eggs of most of our cutworm moths are deposited
soon after the adult insects appear in early or midsummer. As these clusters of
eggs are laid chiefly on weeds, or other nearby succulent vegetation or upon the
remnants of crops, it is most advisable to plough deeply, in the early fall, all fields
where cutworms have been troublesome. Such clean cultivation not only de-
stroys many of the eggs and the young hibernating cutworms, but also numbers
of other insects which winter beneath fallen plants, refuse, etc. Fall ploughing
should always be practised where circumstances will permit, not only for the de-
struction of hibernating insects, but also because the land will be put into better
condition for early spring sowing. In gardens and orchards, ail remnants of
crops, or other refuse, should be carefully gathered together and destroyed by
burning. When such cleaning up is done as soon as possible after the crop ia
removed, useless plants, which would be suitable for the moths to lay their eggs
upon are removed.

Fig. 5— Method of protecting young seedlings from cutworms by means ot small tin cylindet*.

Protective bands. In fields or gardens where such plants as cabbages,
cauliflowers, tomatoes, etc., are set out, protection against cutworm attack can be
had by placing a band of tin, or wrapping a piece of paper, around the stem of each
plant at the time of setting out. Tin, of course lasts longer than paper, and is,
therefore, to be preferred. Pieces of tin about six inches long and two and a half
inches wide are sufficiently large for this purpose and can easily be made into a
cylindrical shape by bending them around a broom handle. Old tomato, or
other tins in which canned vegetables have been preserved, are useful for this
purpose, and if thrown into a bonfire the tops and bottoms fall off, leaving the
central piece of tin which, if cut down the middle, will be sufficient for protecting
two plants.

14

To protect fruit snd other trees from climbing eutworms, a bmnd of cotton
batting four inches in width may be fastened tightly around the tree near the
bottom. The wire or o.rong string holding the cotton batting should be placed
near the lower edge, so that the upper part of the*band can be hung down thus
forming a sort of funnel, or conenshapcd, mass of batting.

RniEDIAL MEASURES.

Poitoned baits. The poisoned bran remedy is the one which is now used
most extensively for the destruction of cutworms generally. This is made by
moistening the bran with sweetened water and then dusting in Paris green in the
proportion of half a pound of Paris green to fifty pounds of bran. It is important
that the bran be noticeably moistened (but not made into a mash or moistened
too much to prevent its being crumbled through the fingers) so that when the
poison is added, it will .adhere to practically every particle. One half a gallon of
water, in wi ich half a pound of sugar has been dissolved, is sufficient to moisten
fifty pounds of bran. If more convenient, the same quantity of salt may be used
instead of sugar, or even molasses may be employed. The mixture should he
applied as .soon as cutworm injury is noticed. It is important, too, that the mix-
ture be scattered after sundown, so that it will be in the very best condition when
the cutworms come out to feed at night. This material is very attractive to them
and when they crawl about in search of food they will actually eat it in preference
to the growing vegetation. If the mixture is put out during a warm day, it soon
becomes dry and is not, of course, as attractive to the cutworms. From fifty to
one hundred pounds of poisoned bran is sufficient to treat an acre, the actu.il
amount depending upon the closeness of the plants. In fields, where standing
grain is attacked, the mixture may be distributed by means of a wheel seeder, or
it can be thrown from a wagon, by means of a shingle, to a distance of twenty feet.
In large fields of such plants as beets, the mixture may be distributed on the sur-
face by means of J» beet drill, the spouts of which should not be allowed to become
clogged, or it miy be spread by hand. In southern Alberta, where cutworms
often do very serious damage in fields of beets, it has been found that a 16 year old
boy ran apply the bran to eight or ten acres in a day, and in such crops some
growers have found it necessary to use only from twenty to thirty pounds of mix-
ture to the acre. The method ib to have a sack filled with the bran, hung about
tlip neck and by walking between two rows, and using both hands, the mixture
may be scattered along the row on either side. When cutworms are so numerous
as to assume the walking habit, the poisoned bran may be spread just ahead of
their line of march. In gardens, where vegetables or flowering plants are to be
protected, a small quantity of the material may be put around, but not touching,
each plant. Where rows are to be treated, it can be quickly placed in the manner
described above by walking down between the rows.

Fresh bundles of any succulent weed, grass, c!iver, or other tender vegeta-
tion, which ha-'e been dipped into a strong solution of Paris green (one ounce of
Paris green to a pail of water), may be placed at short distances apart in an in-
fested field, or between rows of vegetables, or roots, and will attract many cut-
worms and protect the crops from further injury. These bundles, also, should
be put out after sundown, so that the plants will not be too withered before
the cutworms find them. As in the case of the poisoned bran, they should be
applied just as soon as the presence of cutworms is detected.

The above poisoned baits have given excellent results for all surface feeding
cutworms. For such cutworms however, as the Glassy Cutworm, which feed
almost entirely underground, these baits are, of course, of little value. For such
cutworms it is important to keep the land to be used for small grain crops the fol-
lowing year as free as possible from long grassi and weeds. Prairie or sod land

16

which is to be broken for Medtog the next year should be fed off u late aa poaribie
or mowed before bn king. If this ia done, there will be no tall vegetation to
attract the female motha for the purpoae of egg-laying.

Furrows or dUehet. A» a rule when cutworms assume the marching habit,
they arc nearly full-grown and, of course, very ravenous. In auch instances, aa
has already been mentioned, applications of poisoned bran have been extremely
useful in stupping the attack. Severe outbreaks may also be largely controlled
by ploughing deep furrows in advance of the line of march of the cutworms. The
progress of the caterpillars is thus stopped and when a furrow is entered by
them, a log drawn by a horse may be dragged through it and the cutworms in
this way will be crushed and killed. If a serir ■ of post holes about a foot deep and
about ten feet apart are dug in the furrow, hundreds of the cutworms will fall into
them and they can be ea.«ily killed by crushing them with the blunt end of a post,
or a piece of fence rail.

Handpieking. In small gardens, as soon as cutworm injury is noticed, the
culprits can, as a rule, be easily loca'i«d in the soil, about an inch or so beneath the
surface and within a radius of a fe-v inches of the plant, and destroyed by hand.
Such handpieking should, of course, be always practised whenever a plant is seen
to have been cut off. Where such a species as the Variegated Cutworm is occas-
ionally troublesome in greenhouses, the simple method of digging them out by
hand has given relief.

Poultry. Flocks of chickens, turkeys, or other poultry, are useful in out-
breaks of cutworm»i and if turned into infested fields or gardens will soon find and
devour not only many of the caterpillars but also the pups.

The remedies for Army-worms are given on pages 28 and 29.

THE COMMONER SPECIES OF CUTWORMS.

The Red-backed Cutworm, Euxoa ochrogaster Gn.

(Figure 1 on platp.)

Appearance. .Kfi its popular name indicates, this cutworm is red along the
upper side, or back. When full-grown, it is about one and a half inche.-s long. The
head and the shield behind are yellowish-brown, the formt-r iiaving two di.^tinct
black marks towards the centre. In the middle of the back there is a pale stripe
and at each side a dark stripe borders the red of the back. As in other cutworm.^, the
body bears series of rather small, dark tubercles, or wart -like excrescences, ';ach of
which bears a single hair. The three pairs of true legs from the three segments
next to the head are similar in colour to the under surface of the body, which
varies from grayish to brownish, as are also the hea\'ier five pairs of pro-legs from
the more central and anal segments. The reddish colour of the upper surface of
this cutworm usually distinguishes it from our other common species.

The moth of this cutworm is extremely varialilf in cdlour and markings. In
size, it ranges from about one and tliree-eiglith.- inclies to one and five-eighths
inches. The ground colour of the wings varies from a pale clay yellow to a beauti-
ful dark red. The front wings are each crossed by four or five irregular lines,
some of which in some specimens are hardly traceable. These wings, in most
examples, bear heavy conspicuous ijlai k inarking.s, particularly near the bitse of
the wing and on either side of the round and kidney-shaped marks in the centre of

the upper half of each wing. The hind wings are usually dark, paler in the centre
and at base. The body is of the same colour as the front wings.

HabiU and life-hutory. The Red-backed Cutworm is the most regularly-
occurring and, on the whole, the most destructive cutworm which we have in
Canada. It is present in ever>- province of the Dominion, and attacks not -aly
all kinds of garden and field crops, but practically every succulent plant which
happens to be nearby, especially if the same is of any value. In flower beds,
annuals are often entirely destroyed by the ravages of this cutworm. In eastern
Canada, vegetables, such as cabbages, cauliflowe beets, radishes, etc., are
attacked every year and in the western provinces i ch injury is done to wheat,
oats, etc., oftentimes whole fields of grain or othei crops, being entirely des-
troyed.

The moths of this cutworm appear in the end of June and during July and
August, some years even later, the actual time depending upon seasonal conditions.
Ip ordinary years the moths occur in the largest numbers in the latter half of
July and during early August. At Ottawa, the species is known to pass the winter
in the egg state, but whether this is always the case, is not known. Eggs depos-
ited in October did not hatch until April 20. Caterpillars from these eggs became
full-grown and pupated on June 10, the first moths appearing on July 20. On
another occasion, eggs which were laid late in August passed through warm
weather in September and October and did not hatch until the following May,
but at that time much larger larvs were found out-of-doors in the ground.

This cutworm does most damage in the latter half of May and during the first
half of June. In most seasons the caterpillar becomes full-grown in the latter
half of June, and enters the ground to a short depth of about one to two inches,
where it makes an earthen cell in which it changes to a reddish-brovni pupa, about
three-quarters of an inch in length. In this inactive state it remains for - '^ut
three or more weeks. In some years the moths will emerge in less than three
weeks; other seasons it has been five weeks from the time the caterpillars entered
the earth, before the adults appeared.

In one year ('909) these cutworms were very abundant in eastern Ontario
in the first half of July, and did not become fully fed until the middle of that
month. Such late occurrences, however, are unusual.

The Greast or Black Cutworm, Agrotis ypsilon Rott.

(Figure 2 on plate.)

Appearance. Full-grown Specimens of this cutworm measure from an inch
and a half to an inch and three-quarters in length. The general colour is a uni-
form dark greasy-gray, although some individuals are decidedly blackish. Down
the center of the back is a pale yellow line, and along the sides are three other
lines of the same colour, the upper of which on each side is the most distinct.
Some larvae have also yellowish patches down the back' The smdll tubercles,
or piliferous spots on the segments, are black, shiny and conspicuous. The head
varies in colour from almost wholly dark brown, or black, to a pale brown marked
with two black dashes on the front near the middle, and two smaller black dashes
on the lower part of either side. The shield on the first body segment is mostly
dark brown or blackish. The legs in front are pale brown,'those behind being
similar in colour to that of the ventral surface of the body, which is paler than the
back and inclined to greenish.

The moth of this caterpillar is rather large, expanding with the wings
spread, from about an inch and three quarters to two inches in width. The fore-
wings are dark purplish-brown suffused with pale brown, particularly in the outer

i

!

1. Red-lmoked f'utworm, l>ack and side vien-

(Euzoa ochrogastcr. )
1*. (.ireasy Cutworm, Vjack and side view.

(Agrolia yiisilon.)
S. W-niarkod Cutworm t)ack and side view.
(Xoctua ctandeatina. }

7. Black Anny-worm, l«»rk and -iidp view.
(Xoettm fennicii. t

Photo l>y H. T. Cillsaow.

J. S[)oited Cutwurni, ()ack and -ido view.

(Xoctua c-nigrum.)
">. White Cutworm, Ijack view.

f Euioa scandens. )
(j. OinKy Cutworm, back view.

( Feltin fiucenx. I

17

third and near the base. In some specimens the pale brown extends along the
lower half of the wings. The transverse lines are fairly distinct as are also the
round and kidney-shaped marks. From the middle of this latter spot, ou wardly ,
there is a conspicuous, blackish, lance-shaped mark. The hind wings are whitish
or dusky, with a pearly lustre. The thorax is of a grayish-brown colour, the abdo-
men bdng still paler.

Habits and life-history. This common and very injurious species is widely
distributed and occurs throughout the breadth of the Dominion. It is especially
destructive to garden crops, cabbages, cauliflowers, cucumbers, etc., the cutting
habit being developed to a high degree. It often cuts off large potato, tomato
and tobacco plants, usually about an inch above ground and one cutworm, in a
single night, is capable of destroying three or four plants. In Ontario, it has, in
some years, done serious injury in fields of com. Flowering garden plants are
al.so often attacked and in many instances the roots ai-e eaten as well as the leaves.
In eastern Ontario we have found the caterpillars very numerous in the latter
half of May and during the first week of June, destroying young beets and radishes
and newly set-out cabbages and cauliflowers.

It is not known definitely how many broods of this insect there are in Canada,
but it would appear from present knowledge that there are two annual generations.
In Ontario, we have collected the adult moths as early as May 16 and as late as
October 25. Some years the moths are extremely abundant in late summer and
autumn. Larvae collected in the field in July entered the earth on the 17th of
that month to pupate and the moths appeared on August 7. On July 23 1911
the writer found at Ottawa a batch of the eggs of this moth, which had been deposi-
ted on the upper side of a birch leaf. They were cream-coloured when found but
turned dark before the young larvjE hatched on July 27. At first, the young cut-
worms were pale green, the black tubercles on the segments being very cons-
picuous. Later, the pale central stripe down the back appeared as well as the
lateral stripes. On August 20 they were full-grown and within a few days later
all had entered the earth and changed to pupae, the moths emerging from Septem-
ber 14 to 18.

The Variegated Cutworm, Peridroma saucia Hbn.

Appearance. This cutworm, when mature, is a large, plump caterpillar measur-
ing about two inches in length by one fourth of an inch in wiiith. It is variable
in colour, ranging from pale-gray to almost a dull-brown, some specimens with
a greenish tinge. The body is mottled and streaked witii dark brown, or black,
and marked along the side with a conspicuous yellowish band. Between tliis
band and the middle of the back is an interrupted stripe of velvety black blotches
lx)rdered, more or less, with orange. Below this and above the yellowish band
just mentioned are a series of blackish curved dashes on either .<«i(le, one on each
segment. On the top of the last segment but one, there is a conspicuous velvety
black mark shaped somewhat like the letter W, with the lower part filled in.
Down the centre of the back is a rather thin yellowish stripe which is expanded
into a spot in the middle of some of the central segments. The.se spots are nearly
always present on segments 4 to 7, and in some examples the stripe is witlencd
into spots ou one or two other segments. That part of the body beneath the wide
band on the sides is much paler than the back. The heacl is reddish-yellow
and conspicuously marked with black bands which form a rather imperfect
letter H.

The moth of the Variegated Cutworm is also extremely variable. The front
wings are of some shade of brown, or reddish-brown, usually darker along the
outer margin. Some specimens are more or less blotched with pale brownish-
18896—2

18

yellow, while in others the whole lower and central area of the wings is pale brown-
ish yellow; in such examples, the colour along the upper margin is decidedly dark,
almost blackish. The wings are crossed with four more or less distinct double
wavy lines. The round and kidney-shaped spots are usually distinct, the latter
being the darker. The centre of the hind wings is pearly-white, with a purplish
reflection, the edges being bordered with brown. The head and the thorax are
of the same colour as the front wings, while the abdomen is much paler and in
some examples is covered partly with a whitish down or pubescence. These
moths, when the wings arc expanded are from about an inch and a half to nearly
two inches in width.

Fi«- 6— The VnricRated Cutworm; a, moth: h, c. <i. caterpillars:
«, eg«— piilttrr^d: /, CRgmasson twig. (After Howard.)

HaUls and life-history. While this cutworm does not occur e\ cry year in
destructive numbers, probably no other species lias done as much damage in a
single season. As has already been mentioned, this cutworm has destroyed in
one season alone, in Canada and the United Slates, crops having a market value
of over two millions of dollars. The species is cosmopolitan in distribution, and, in
C^anada, occurs almost everywhere. It has no limited feeding habits, and attacks
freely all garden and field crops, and even often does much damage by climbing
fruit trees and eating the leaves. It is also occasionally found attacking plants
in greenhouses. In 19()0, a phenominal outbreak of this cutworm appeared in
Hritish C"olumi)in, the l((s.« in gurdcn crops alone l)eing enormous. Millions of
the cateri)illiirs occurred and they fed at all times of the day and night. They
were also i)r( .-n-nt in exceptional numbers in Manitoba and ( hitario. The attack
in that year was first apparent in early July, and the ruvuges were continued
tliroughout that month, and during early August, almost every kind of crop being
attacked— vegetables, fruit trees and fruit, flowers, etc.

In British Columbia, as many as 50 clusters of eggs undoubtedly of this
species were found on June 28 on clothes which had been hung out to dry. On
the same day they were also found on windows, verandahs and on tlie leaves of
hop, etc. They were even found inside iiouses on curtains and other objects.
These eggs are of u creamy-yellow colour and are usually laid in patches, some of
which contain as many as 500 eggs. They are very often deposited in rows along
twigs of fruit trees. Eggs which we received from British Columbia and which
were laid on June 27 (1902), hatched on Julv 3. The cutworms at first arc pale

1

19

in colour with a blaclc head and indistinct lines. In their younger stages they
loop when walking, as do our other species, on accoimt of some of the pro-legs
being abortive.

In 1900, large numbers of this cutworm became full-grown and entered the
earth the la Iter week of July and during the first half of August, although other
individuals did not pupate until later in August or in the beginning of September.
Specimens which buried themselves on July 27, produced the moths on August 13
to 16, in others the pupal period was longer. In 1907, one moth from larva col-
lec,<»d at Ottawa emerged on September 6. The pupa of this cutworm is of a
mahogany-brown colour, and in size is about five-eighths of an inch long to about
five-sixteenths of an inch in width at widest part; at the end are two short spines.

From present knowledge it would seem as if there were two broods of this
insect in normal seasons in Canada, the moths appearing in June and again
after the middle of August. It is not definitely known how the insect usually
passes the winter in Canada. At Ottawa, moths have been captured as late as
October 14, and about the middle of November pupse, which later produced the
moths, were dug up out-of-doors. The species, in some years, therefore, evidently
hibernates, in the pupal state. It seems probable, however, that the eggs would
be laid in August or September by the moths emerging during those months and
larvffl would emerge from these soon afterwards and pass the winter in a partly
grown condition. Hibernation may also possibly take place in the adult moth
Htate.

The Dark-sided Cutworm, Eiixoa mestoria Harr.

Appearance. The chief characteristic of this cutworm is that the colour of
the sides is noticeably darker than the skin of the rest of the body. The general
colour of full-grown specimens is dull grayish, some having a pale-greenish
or other light coloured tinge. The head and shield behind are shiny and of much
the same colour as the body. The back is marked down the middle with a dark
line and on each segment of the body are the usual number of blackish, single-
haired, tubercles. The underside of the body is paler than the back, as are also
the feet. In its younger stages, the sides arc much darker.

Fin. 7— The Dark-ai(l<-.| Cuiworiii iiinl nn.ili. (After Riley.)

The moths of this cutworm are very similar in apj.^arance, there being no
conspicuous variation in colour in a series of specimens. The upper wings are
(lark gray and are marked with dark brown, or blackish, transverse lines and
.shadings. The two spots near the centre are conspicuous, and in most specimens
there is a pale patch at the apex of each of these wings. The hind wings are
mostly pale, almost whitish, bordered with a browiiisli band.

HabitH and life-history. The Dark-sided Cutworm is a very common
species and occurs widespread. Its injuries, however, in the past have been con-
fined largely to the eastern provinces, especially Ontario and Quebec, where it
often occurs in large numbers in May and June. This cutworm has very wide
feeding habits; it is not only particularly destructive to onions and other vegeta-
bles, as well as to almost all kinds of plants in flower gardens, but it also very fre-
quently climbs small trees and shrubs, doing serious injury to the buds. Owing

1889«— 2i

90

to this latter habit, many youug trees in newly set out orchards are entirely
ruined. When prevalent in onion fields this cutworm has the habit of climbing
to the top of the stalks and eating downwards.

Unfortunately, the life-history of this insect is not as yet known. The moths
occur commonly in many widely separated districts. In Ontario and Quebec
they are on the wing in August and September. At Toronto the moth has been
collected as late as September 26, (1904), and at Ottawa on October 5, (1903).
In Manitoba, the moths have been taken in the middle of August, and in British
Columbia about the same time. In eastern Ontario, we have reared the moths
from larvse collected in the field on August 30, (1903), and August 15, (1904).

The White Cutworm, Euxoa scandens Riley.

(Figure Son plate).

Appearance. When full-grown, the White Cutworm is about one and three-
quarter mches long. It is of a light yellowish-gray colour with whitish patches
on the back and sides. A distinct line is present down the middle of the back and
on each side of the back and along the centre of the side there are other longitud-
inal lines which are not so distinct. The piliferous tubercles on this cutworm
are dark, but not very apparent. The black spiracles along the sides are cons-
picuous. The head and the shield on the first body segment are pale brown
sparsely dotted with black. All the feet are of a similar colour to that of the
underside of the body. The general whitish colour and, on the whole, the incons-
picuous markings of this cutworm, usually distinguish it from any of . t other
common forms.

The moth varies considerably in the colour of the front wings, which may
be either ash-gray, or gray suffused with a yellowish, brownish or reddish colour.
Near the outside margin of each of these wings is a conspicuous wavy, whitish line.
The other cross lines on the fore-wings are indistinct, but the round and kidney-
shaped spots are readily apparent in most specimens. The hind wings are whitish
with a dark spot in the centre and a double brownish shade along the outer edge
The thorax is of the same colour as the front wings, while the abdomen is whitish.
W ith the wings spread, this moth expands about one and three-eighths inches.

Habits and life-history. Although this cutworm is often responsible for
serious losses from its well-known habit of climbing fruit trees and destroyine
the buds, etc., it does not by any means always confine itself to such habit i
eastern Ontario, as we have found i% on several occasions, working in veKetahlc
gardens, particularly where the soil is sandy. In years of prevalence, however
the chief damage it docs is in climbing fruit tr.ees after dark and eating the buds
the young fruit and the tender leaves. Such injury is done in May and early
June and wheii young trees- apple, pear, peach, etc,— are attacked, the injury
18 olten fatal. ' •

I ^'iJ'/ '"^''"* occurs more or less abundantly almost every year from Manitobi
to the Maritime Provinces. A single specimen of the moth was taken at Calearv
Alta., (Aug. 1, 1904). The moths appear usually in June and during July
One caterpilh.r, whicii we found injuring radishes at Ottawa on May 17, was full
fed and entered tlie earth on June 1, and the moth appeared on July 1. In another
year, the cutworms were mature earlier and the moths emerged on June 5 In 1908
when they were very destTuctive in gardens at Ottawa, they had mostly pupated
by the middle of June. The pupa is similar to that of other cutworms, aiid mea-
sures about five-eighths of an inch in length.

* •?'J«T,i^i".?°*"!°' *!?^ '"?^*^* hibernates as a half-grown caterpillar. On
April 16, 1907, the writer found at Ottawa several of these cutworms about an
inch below the surface of the ground; they were 20 mm.long (IS-sixteenths of an
inch), and were hibematmg in soil where cabbages had been grown the previous

21

The W-marked Cxttworm, Noctua clandestiva Harris.

(Figure 3 oo plate.)

Appearance. This cutworm is readily recognized by the series of cons-
picuous marks vesembling the letter W which are present on its back, with the
exception of the first three segments. The general colour is pale brown, streaked
and spotted with dark brown. The sides of the W marks are bon'.ered with
bright pale yellow. A pale line is present down the centre of the back ; the yellow
markings referred to rest on a pale line, and below this along the side and about
the middle is a wide, more or less distinct, b^nd, bordered above with yellow and
dark brown. The head is pale brown, marked down tl;e middle of each side
with a wide very distinct black dash, the rest of the head is conspicuously marked
in a fine network, or reticulated with dark brown. The shield on the first seg-
ment behind the head is also dark brown. The three front pairs of feet are pale
brown, the others being similar in colour to the under surface of the body which
is no so dark as the back and upper portion of the sides. When mature this larva
is about one and three-eighths inches long.

The moth of the W-marked Cutworm cxpan<ls about one and five-eighths
inches when the wingb are spread. The front wings are of a dark, smoky-brown
colour, the transverse lines paler and not very distinct. The round or orbicular
spot is margined with black, as is also the inner side of the reniform or kidnej^-
shaped spot. In many specimens these spots are joined together by a short black
line. The hind wings are whitish, tinged with brown, darkest at tht outer edges.

Habits and life-khtory. This cutworm, although common and widespread in
Canada, has not been reported to the same extent as some of our other species.
In years of abundance, however, it does do much damage, not only to all kinds of
vegetables,— cabbage, cauliflower, corn, beans, etc., but also to the roots of
grasses, and most probably does a good deal of injury in wheat fields. It also has
the habit of climbing trees and shrubs and feeding upon the buds and leaves.
Apple, currant, gooseberry, etc., are attacked. It will be seen, therefore, that it
is a very general feeder and that almost any succulent plant ir liable, any year,
to be injured or destroyed.

The moths fly in Jvme, July, .\ugust and September, and occur from Nova
Scotia to British Columbia. Some years they are very numerous and fly into
houses during the evening becoming quite a pest.

The full life-history of this cutworm is not as yet known. The caterpillafs
hibernate in a partly grown state in the l th, a short distance below the surface,
and on the first growth of vegetation in spring they become active and at once
attack plants. They reach n tiirity in eastern Ontario, tov.-ards the end of
May and in June, and chanr he usual reddish-brown pupae, the moths emer-

ne and early July, the dates varying with the
vollected in tiie open as late as the middle of
. . . iwo broods in the year, or even a partial second

brood, it is impossible tv. say from our present knowledge. We have on several
occasions succeciled in getting female moths to oviposit in confinement. Eggs
secured in August did not hatch until the end of OctoL . • On another occasion,
the eggs were deposited on September 13. They were laid in patches on the side
of a wooden pill box.

The Spotted Cutworm, Noctua c-nigrum Linn.

(Figure 4 on plate.)

Appearance. The general colour of this cutworm is pale browni8h,or ashy-
gray, some examples having a distinct ruddy or greenish appearance. The con-
Bpicuous character by which it may be recognized is the row of triangular-shaped,

ging from their earthen cell
seasons. The moths have i
October, but whether there ar

22

;[

blackish marks (more conspicuous on the rear segments) . either side of the
back. These marks are similar to those on the W-marked L jtworm, but are not
so heavy and lack the conspicuous yellow bordering of those of the latter cater-
pillar. Down the middle of the back, the-e is a pale line, and between this and
the conspicuous whitish, or yellowish, stigmatal band, which connects the spira-
cles or breathing pores on the sides, there is also a pale line. On each of the abdo-
minal segments there is an oblique blackish dash, very distinct in some specimens,
just above each breathing pore. In some caterpillars the stigmatal band is
flushed with a reddish tinge, and the whole body is more or less blotched and
streaked with brown. The head and shield on th first segments are yellowish-
brown. Two brown bands arc present on the front of the head, and the sides and
top are reticulated with the same colour. The front feet are pale brown and
shiny, the back pairs being dull and similarly coloured to the ventral surface of
the bodj'.

Tlie adult moth is about one and a half inches in expanse of wings. The
general colour of the front wings is of a purplish-brown or reddish-brown, some
being much darker than others. Towards the centre of each of these wings is
a conspicuous C-like spot, the open part towards the front margin of the wing
being filled in with a pale blotch which extends in many specimens to the upper
edge of the kidney-shaped mark. The transverse lines are easily traced and
the outside margin of the wings is usually darker. The hind wings arc pale
yellowish-brown, becoming darker near the edges. The thorax is of the same
general colour of the front wingd but it is crossed in front by a distinct whitish
collar; the abdomen is paler.

Habits and lije-history. This cutworm is also a very generr<l feeder. In
1900, it appeared in destruc^'.ve numbers in Ontario and attacked almost all
kinds of vegetation—tomatoes, carrots, mangels, turnips, peas, etc. In one
pla(e(Wiiitby)where tomatoes were attacked,the cutworms had climbed the vines
and as many as a dozen or so were found eating into a single tomato. In another
place (Pefferlaw) they devoured the leaves of Canada thistle, gooseberries, choke-
chorries, etc. This injury in the above year was done by the second brood which
appeared in July. In the same season a cluster of eggs found at Niagara, Ont.,
upon an apple leaf, was sent to the Division. These were reared to maturity on
apple, the cutworms becoming full-grown and entering the earth from July 24 to
27, and the moths appearing from August 18 to 25. In another year (1902) we
received eggs from Nova Scotia, which hatched on June 26. The caterpillars
passed through six stages, and some entered the earth on July 25 turning to pupse
two days later. Ten moths were secured, five emerging on August 22 and the
others on August 23. In the same year at Ottawa the writer found a larva which
produced a moth on June 17, and another wliich became mature on August 1,
tlio moth emerging on September 3. In 1903, from larvK collected in the field we
reared the adults on June 8. The overwinteriiip; larvaj come out of hibernation
early in spring and as soon as food is availahk-, jilants are at once attacked and
the cutworms become mature and produce moths in the end of May or early June.
11 will thus be seen that the moths occur at almost any time from late in May tili
autumn. We have collrctod them at Ottawa as late as October 10.

The Olassy Cutworm, Hadcna demstatrix Brace.

Appearance. The caterpillar is of a dirty whitish colour, with a grceni.sh
tinge. The head is reddish or reddish-brown, the shield on the first segment being
conspicuous and brownish. The only markings on the body are the dull brown
tubercules, each of whicli bears a single hair. The front feet are pale brownish,
the hind ones being of the same colour as the body. Full-grown specimens are
about an inch and a half in length. This cutworm is similar in appearance to tl.o

23

Yellow-headed Cutworm, but fiom the colour of the heads, it is usually an easy
matter to distinguish them.

Fig- 8— Glassy Cutworm: moth an I catorpilbr.

The fore-wings of the moth vary in colour from pale ashy-gray to dark brown-
ish-gray. The transverse lines are usually distinct, the subterminal one near
the outer margin being the most conspicuous and in some specimens almost
whitish. On the inner side of this line art a series of short arrow-like dashes
The usual round and kidney-shaped spots are large, the former being the paler
The hind wings are brownish, the inner half being paler.

Habits and life-history. Unlike most of our other cutworms, this species sel-
dom comes above the surface of the ground, even during the night. It feeds
chiefly upon the roots and lower stems of various kinds of grasses, such as wheat
oats, corn and grass in meadows, and, as a rule, is only troublesome in grain fields
sown on grass lands which have recently been ploughed up. In addition, how-
ever, to grasses, this cutworm also attacks garden plants such as cabbages, beans
lettuce, etc. In Ontario it has injured seriously fields of oats 15 to 20 acres in
size, between May 10 and 25, and also has been troublesome in fields of com
Fields of fall wheat have also been damaged in May and earW .June, to such ati
extent, that it was necessary to plough them up. In Manitoba, also, much injury
has been done in wheat fields.

The insect is widely distributed in North America, and in Canada the motlis
have been found commonly from Nova Scotia across to British Columbia. It flies
from late June until the middle of September. Eggs arc laid in the latter part of
the season; the young larva emerge soon afterwards and hibernate in a partly
grown condition. Larvas found in Ontario in May (1906) became full-grown and
pupated on May 19, the moths emerging on July 19— two months later. The
pupa is rather large, nearly an inch in length by about a quarter of an inch in
width, and of a reddish-brown colour.

?

M

The yellow-headed Ci'tworm, Hadcna ardica Bdv.

Appearance. This cutworm is very similar in appearance to the Glassy Cut-
worm; but, as its popular name indicates, it has a yellowish head. The shield
behind the head is of a tawny-yellow and the body is of a smoky-gray colour,
without markings. When mature it is about an inch and a lialf long.

The moth is a fairly l.irtrt- spf>fiop, expanding when the winj;.-? arc si)rcad from
an inch and three-quarters to slightly more than two inches. The front wings
are reddish-brown, shaded towarils the l)a.-*e and the outer space with bluish-grav.
In some specimens the cross lines are distinct being of a pale yellowish colour-
in others they are tiarker and not so conspicuous. The same applies to the round
and kidney-shaped marks. The latter one is large and more or less filled with a
whitish or pale yellowish colour. At the apex of each of these wings is a pale
blotch. The hind wings are brownish, the outer third being darkest; in the centre

24

there is a dark brown spot. The thorax is the same colour as the front wings, the
abdomen being paler and of a rust-red shade particularly along the back.

HaMts and life-history. The habits of this cutworm are similar to those of
the Glassy Cutworm. It usually lives about one or two inches below the surface
of the ground feeding on the roots and cutting off the lower portion of the stems of
oats, wheat, corn, etc. Fields of spring grain in western Ontario have been fre-
quently injured and in some instances the crops were so badly attacked that it
was necessary' to replough the fields and sow to peas, or use the land for other
purposes. Besides grasses, the species is also known to attack cabbage, turnip,
spinach, lettuce and other garden vegetables, as well as the young shoots of roses,
currants, etc. These cutworms are mostly prevalent in May and June. We
have reared the moths in eastern Ontario in the latter end of June. The pupa
is of the same size and colour as that of the Glaray Cutworm. Some years the
moths are extremely numerous and are on the wing in June, July and August.
When they are abundant they have the annoying habit of flying into houses, get-
ting into lamps, etc., and soiling curtains and clothes. In Canada, the species
is widespread, being found from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast.

The Clover Cutworm, Mameslra trifolii Esp.

Appearance. This caterpillar varies considerably in colour, some specimens
being distinctly green, or greenish-yellow, others quite dark above, owing to
brownish or blackish mottlings. Down the back is a pale yellowish central line.
Between this and a broad pinkish band along the middle of the side is a broken
stripe of yellow, more or less edged above with black. Tlie pinkish coloured band
is bordered above and below with white or pale yellow. The spiracles, or broatli-
ing pores are each surrounded by a blackish patch. The under surface of tlie
body is greenish-gray with pale yellowish spots and streaks. The head is pale-
yellowish, or pale-greenish, with white mottlings. When mature, this cutworm
is about two inches in length.

The fore-wings of the motli are of a yellowish-brown colour marked with
gray and dark brown. The cross lines are distinct, the outer one being whitish
and, in the centre, forming the letter W. Outiide of this line the wings are dark.
The round and kidney-shaped marks arc distinct, the latter being mostly dark.
The hind wings are pale to a little beyond the middle, then dusky. The thorax
and abdomen are of the same general colour as the fore wings. With the wings
spread the moth measures about one and a half inches in width.

Habits and life-hislcry. This insect is a common species and tiie larvoe have
on several occasions, inflicted serious damage in Canada. In some years in
Ontario, this cutworm has attracted considerable attention during August, from
its ravages particularly in pea fields. Specimens of the remains of \anes sent
to the Division showed that much of the outside fleshy covering of the pea pods
had been gnawed away by the caterpillars, as well as all the leaves and green
portion of the stems. Clover is also attacked, as well as mangels, turnips, cab-
bages, lettuce, spinach and other vegetables. In years of abundance, when food
becomes scarce, this cutworm assumes the marching habit characteristic of the
true Army- worm.

The insect occurs across the breadth of the Dominion. In Ontario, we have
collected the moths from late in May, until autunm; so, most probably, the
species is at least double-brooded. In one breeding experiment the larva became
full-grown and buried itself in the earth on August 26 and the moth did not
emerge until June 8 of the following year.

25

The Dinqt Cutworm.

(Figure t on plate.)

In Fletcher's report for 1888 this cutworm is described as follows: "Head
»ray, shiny and speckled; thoracic shield on first segment bearing three white
stripes. General colour of the body gray and three indistinct stripes along the
sides. The bristle bearing tubercles black and conspicuous. When full-nrown
It u about an inch in length. ' '

In the early reports of the Division of Entomology and Botany, in wliich
mention 18 made of this cutworm, the scientific name of the insect is given as
Agrohs {FeUia) tubgothtca Haw. This name, in fact, has been used by economic
entomologists generally in treating of the Dingy Cutworm. Feltia ducens Walk,
however, is the common and widespread species which occurs in Canada. '

The specimen of the larva of ducens figured on the plate is of a dull
grayish-brown colour marked down the middle of the back with a series of paler
blotches, which almost give the appearance of a very wide dorsal band, down the
centre of which is an indistinct line. Looking at the caterpillar from the side tiie
skm between the blotches mentioned and the spiracles, or breathing pons, i,^
dark, the wide substigmatal band just below the spiracles is of a pale yellowish
colour, and the side of the body below this to the feet is pale brown. The spir-
acles ate wholly black and appear as spots along the side. The sJiiclds on the back
of the first and last segments are noticeably darker than the skin of the rest of the
body. The head is pale brown with two conspicuous curved blackish bands
down the front; in addition it is distinctly marked with a network of dark brown.
Of late years, no reports have come to us of injury by the Dingy Cutworm
According to Fletcher, this cateipillar has attacked in ea.stern Canada all kinds
of garden crops— turnips, cabbages, etc. In the United States it is a serious
enemy to corn, wheat, early vegetables, and has even been found climbing fruit
trees and shrubs to devour the buds and leaves. In the Ottawa district we have
found the young larva; of FeUia ducens in September and the caterpillars have
been found in the spring up to the end of June. About this latter time they enter
the ground for pupation and the moths emerge usually in August.

LITTLE KNOWN CUTWORMS.

In addition to the cutworms already mentioned, there ;ire .--everal which
occur in tlie western provinces and which some years have done considerable
damage to various kinds of crops. In the prairie provinces the caterpillars of
( honzagrotis aiunliaris Grt., C. introferens Grt. and C. ayreMs Grt. have attacked
all kinds of succulent plants. In Alberta, in 1911. tlie larva; of Poronagrotis
delorata Sm. appeared for the first time as an injurious cutworm and destroyed
large areas of wheat. In one instance a correspoudont claimed that 320 acToo of
wheat had been destroyed by this latter cutworm before June 21. In British
Columbia the caterpillars of Paragrotis perexcdkm (Jrt. liave, on .several occas-
ions, appeared in very large numbers in market gardens, and those of Dargida
procinctus Grt. have also injured crops in the same province.

ARMY-WORMS.

In Canada there arc two different kinds of army-worms which are periodieal-
ly responsible for much damage to certain cro>is. Both of these noctuid cater-
pillars are present in more or less numbers every year, and in seasons of

26

ordinary abundanre they have the same habit as cutworms, feeding during the
night and hiding by day. Wlien, however, conditions favoui th'' increase and
they become enormously abundant they soon devour all ner.rb- available food
and march ahead at any time of the night or day in army-like fashion, in search of
new helds to conquer and destroy. Owing to such habit they are commonly
called army-worms. They are in general similar to cutworms, to which, in fact,
they are closely allied being of the same shape and having the same number of
legs, namely, sixteen.

The Arhv-woru, Heliophila unipiinrta Haw.

Appearance. When full-grown this army-worm is about an inch and a half
long. It is a brown or blackish caterpillar with three conspicuous yellowish or
pale-coloured stripes above, one down the middle and the others on either side >t
the back. A broad dark band is present on each side of the body, bordered above
with a yellow line. Along the lower edge uf the breathing pores is a wide yellow-
i.«h band flushed more or less with red. Leneath, the body is greenish, mottled
with brown. The head is brown marked with a network of darker brown; on
each side are two curved blackish-brown l)ars. The feet are pale brown.

The moth is about from an inch and a half to rather more than an inch
and three quarters in width when the wings are spread. The fore-wings are of a
reddish-gray, or fawn colour, with a conspicuous white mark about the centre of
each. Tiie round and kidney-shaped spots are indistinct in some specimens but
in most appear as two yellowish-red patches. A row of small black spots near the
outer margins of the wings and a dark streak from each apex to these spots, com-
pletes the important markings. The hind wings are brown, darker at the
outer margins. The thorax is of the same colour as the fore wings and the
abdomen is similar to the hind wings.

Fig. !t — Arniy-woriii.

Fig. 10— Eggs, pupa and moth of Army-worm.

Habits and life-historiK -Sorious outbreaks of the Army-worm have oronrrod
in Canada from time to time. In the United States, in certain years, the cater-
pillars have destroyed crops to the value of many thousands of dollars. In one
year alone (1881) the damage done by the Army-worm to the oat crop of Indiana
and Illinois was estimated at S750,()00. In Canada, oats and time ly are the
two crops which have suffered most, but corn, rye, barley and wheat have been
attacked to a lesser extent, as well as even garden vegetables such as peas, beans,
lettuce, etc. These latter crops, however, are only attacked, aa a rule, when the

27

I.T«f ^! * •';?** are scarce. In ordiuary years of abundance these cater-
pillars feed at night, as in the case of cutworms, remaining hidden during the day.
In such seasons, therefore, they are seldom noticed but when conditions favour
their increase they breed very rapidly and after eating all available food supply
in the immediate vicinity they assume the army habit marching ahea<l in search
of new plants to devour They do not like the sdn, and conscqientlv during bright
warm days they hide beneath pieces of earth, sod, boards, etc. and in early
evemng, after sundown, come out to feed. ^

In Canada, there are two annual broods of the Armv-worm, the moths
appearing m June and again m August and September, specimens even occurring
abundantly some years, m October. Those which emerge in late summer lay
epgs which hatch ,1, about ten to twelve days. The young larva winter in a par-
tially grown condition beneath tufts of grass and other low herbage, and in sprinir
complete their growth feeding chiefly on grasses. In June moths from those
caterpillars appear and lay eggs producing another brood of caterpillars A
single female moth is capable of laying as many as 700 eggs. They are deposited
in patches on wild or cultivated gra.sses, corn, etc. and in about a week the voung
larva appear. These at first are greenish in colour and loon when walking " The
favounte breeding place is among low, rank-growing grasses

In almost every instance where invasions of this insect have occurred in Can-
ada, the injury has been done by the brood of caterpillars which appeared in July
and the beginning of August. Fortunately, the Army-worm is seldom abundant
in enormous numbers in the .^^ame locality for two years in succes-sion. After an
outbreak, many parasitic insects, as well as parasitic diseases attack the cater-
pillars and bring their numbers again down to normal. Although it is not alto-
gether thoroughly understood how such insects increase in numbers so suddenly
It would appear that dry weather is favourable to their development. This was
instanced in one of the more recent of the serious outbreaks of this insect which we
have had m Canada. In Ontano, the season of 1895 was dry and this was fol-
lowed by a mild winter and another dry summer in 1896. In this latter vear the
Army-worm was present m very large numbers, particulariy all through the west-
ern part of the province, and devastated fields of oats, timothy, wheat, rye, barley
and com. In the following year (1897) not a single reiwrt of the presence of the
insect was received.

When mature, the Army-worm enters the ground to the depth of an inch or
so and changes to a reddish- brown pupa aljout three-quarters of an inch in length
and in about two weeks the moth emerges. The adult moths conceal themselves
during the day but at mght they are very active flying about and being readily
attracted to the well-known ' ' sugar, ' ' a bait applied to trees by collectors of in-
sects, for the purpose of collecting noctuid moths.

Natural enemies. In years of abundance as mentioned above, these cater-
pillars are attacked by many important in.seet parasites, among which are several
two-wingod tachinid Hies which deposit their white, seed-like ej^^s usually upon
t he fore parts of t he li vine worms. As many as fifty of these eggs are stated to
have been found upon a single worm. From each of the.se eggs there .soon hatches
a small maggot which enter.s the body of the caterpillar, feeding entirely within
and griidually killing the worm. In addition to these very u.seful tacliinid flies
there are several .species of four-winged flies which lav their eggs within the body
ot t 0 caterpillars and the young grubs of these also feed upon the jui.-y and fatty
tissues within. Some uf our common ground beetles are also predaceous upon
the Army-worm. ."Several of our wild birds, too, freely eat these larva as for
instance, crows, blackbirds, bobolinks, robins, etc. Even the English Sparrow
has been seen devouring them in large numbers. Parasitic ftmgi, such ;.« Kmnma
also play no small part in the control of these caterpillars.

28

I

1 '

I!

I »

Prnentire and remedial meagures. It has been found poasible by watching
carefully, to control an infestation of the Army-wonn before the caterpillars
leave their native breeding places. This has been done by ploughing around
such breeding placts a few deep furrows and when the caterpillars collect in the
furrows, they can be killed by crushing them, or the vegetation surroundinc the
breeding places may be sprayed with a strong Paris green, or arsenate of lead,
mixture, using one pound of the former, or six pounds of the latter, in every one
hundred gallons of water. When the cater])illiir^ are seen marching ahead,
however, it will be necessary to plough deep furrows across their path. The sides
of the furrows furthest away from the worms :«hould be made perpendirular, if
r.ecessary by a spade, so as to render it diflBcuIt for them to climb. Along each
furrow a series of poet holes about a foot deep and about ten feet apart should
be made. The caterpillars when they reach the furrow will wander along it and
soon fall into one of the holes, when they can then be killed by cither crushing
them with the blunt end of a post, or feme rail, or by pouring a little coal oil over
them. If any of the worms should succeed in getting over the furrow, the plants
ahead of them should be sprayed, as above mentioned.

In the autumn following a severe outbreak of the Army-worm in any locality,
it is a good practice to bum over the old grass and stubble and then plough deeply.
Id this way, young hibernating caterpillars will be destroyed and the place render-
« d unattractive for egg laj-ing for the moths of these and our common species of
injurious cutworms.

As with cutworms, promptness and thoroughness of action are most essential
in dealing with the .\rmy-worm, if crops are to be saved from its ravages.

The 6l.^ck Army Worm, \octuafennica Tausch.

(Figure 7 on |>late.)

Appearance. Full-grown specimens of this caterpillar are from an inch and
a half to about an inch and three-quarters in length. The general colour when
mature is brown with white lines and dark brown and blackish markings. Down
the center of the back is a series of velvety black sow^what diamond-shaped marks
one on each body segment excepting the first. On v. i ;h side of the back is a white
line bordered above with black, and just along the lower edge of the spiracles is
a wide white band, reddish-brown in the centre. Between this band and the
htripe on the side of the back, the colour of the skin is blackish. Before the cater-
pillars become full-grown tlioy are more of a general velvety black coIour,the white
.'^tripes being very conspicuou.*, but as they become mature they are brownish in
colour the back being more or less shaded with reddish. The whole body is spot-
ted and streaked with white. The head is yellowish-red, black in front, the
•Id behind the head being black. All the feet are of a pale brownish colour.

The moth, like the caterpillar, is of rather handsome a]./"arance, and with
ngs spread it measures about an inch and a half across. The front wings
kish-brown shaded with black and with a more or less purplish sheen; the
rounu or orbicular spot is whitish with a few yellowish or dark brownish scales.
The reniform or kidney-shaped spot is large and either distinctly yellow, reddish,
or yellow and red. The double cross lines are black, excepting the subterminal,
near the outer margin, which is whitish. In the males the lower third of the front
wings is conspicuously yellowish-brown. The hind wings are pale becoming
brown at edge.

Habits and life-history. The habits of the Black Army-worm are very
similar to those of our common cutworms; some years, in fact, it is found working
in company with the White Cutworm and the Red-backed Cutworm. In years
of ordinary occurrence it feeds as do these latter species, but when present in

29

large numbers it marches ah«a»l in swarms in true army-worm habit. In eastern
Ontario, its favourite food arc plants belonging to the Leguminoss; cultivated
peas and clover are specially attractive to the caterpillars, although asparagus and
other garden vegetables are often attacked. It has also been found climbing
young oak, blatk walnut, horse chestnut, elm, negundo and maple, which were
being grown fnm seed on the Central Experimental Farm. In one mstance at
Ottawa the larvte in the third week of May spread from a clover field to a three
acre field of peas, which they soon devoured almost bare. Thev are in their later
.xtage3, exceedingly voracious, and in a single night do great damage. Although
this insect is widely distributed in Canada, most of the complaints of injury by
the caterpillars have been received from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
From larvte collected in the field near Ottawa we have reared the adult moths^
the dates of emergence being from June 15 to June 30. Outside, we have
collected the moths from about the middle of June until the middle of September.
The larva hibernates when about half-grown and matures rapidly in spring, the
injury being done before the end of May or eariy in June. When mature the
caterpillar enters the earth in a similar way to ordinary cutworms, and in due time
the moths appear. The full-life history of the insect is not as yet known.

Xatural enei .. On several occasions when the.->e caterpillars were abun-
«laut in eastern Ontario, they were largely destroyed by a parasite fungus, viz.
Empusa virescens Thaxter. In fields, as has been recorded by Fletcher, they were
seen in large numbers on stones, fences, stems of grasses and other plants upon
which they had crawled and to which they were fixed by the fungus. This army-
worm is also attacked by parasitic insects. At Ottawa, the eggs of tachinid flies
have been frequently observed on their bodies.

Remedies. — As the Black Army-worm becomes full-grown and disappears in
most years about the end of May, it is often unnecessary, if the farmer knows the
species, to apply any remedy. It has been found where we have advised corres-
pondents not to resow the land to another crop, that tlie peas, or clover, recovered
from the attack and later heavy crops were harvested.

When the caterpillars are present in ordinary numbers, however, they can be
easily controlled by applying poisoned bran as merMoned on page 14. In years,
\yiien they aro abundant enough to assume the marching habit, the remedies men-
tioned for tlie true Army-worm, on page 28, may be adopted. In one instance,
near Ottawa, further dainage was prevented by spraying a strip of peas 50 feet
wide, ahead of the caterpillars, with a §trong solution of Paris green, one pound in
100 gaihns of water, to which four pounds of soap were added to make the mixture
adlicre b tter.

'

}•

NOTE.

Farmers and others are invited to send specimens of cutworms, or of other
insects, which are found causing injuries to their crops, should tliey wish to have
them identified. Sucli specimens should be enclosed with a supply of food plant
or grass in a tin or wooden box (not a pipor box) which may be mailed "Free"
if adilres.sed to the Dominion Entoiuoir .- i Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa.
In all cases the specimens should bcai iiic address of the sender and should be
accompanied by a letter giving the crops which are being attacked and the extent
of the damage.