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HiR,— I hav«' the honour to xiihniit hi-nwitli for your a|)proval Hiillctin No. 10 of the Kntomological .-iirU.s on "CutworniH and their Control," which has Iwcn writtt-n by Mr. Arthur Cilwon, ChM AsMintant KntoniohiRist. This l.ulU-tin is an cnlarKcd and rcvisi-d idition of our former BuHetin No. 3 (Hull. No. 7(1 of the Kxperimental Farm Seiien) which is now out of print. It contains 'tiiit«4 of ('ulHiirtn- Mi'IIkxI" ••( ' iiiiiriilliriK < ulwiiriiiK I'ri'Vt'ntivr Mffi^firi'" ( It'iin I'liltiviitiiin I'riilri'tivi' liunila Ki'iiii'iliul McrinuriK . IHiImiiu'iI Hiiilx. l-'urrow* of HitrlM-N Hiinilpii'kinii I'liultry . Thf ('uininoni-r Sp»-i'U'»» of ( 'utworiiiH. Till' Kril'liiK'ki'dCutworiii Till' (irriiBy or Hliirk f 'utworiii Till' Viirii'Kiiti'il Cutworm Till' l)iirk-»iili'il • 'ulworiii . . . . Till' Whiti- Cut worm Till' W-miirki'il < ulwortii Till' ."'pot ti'il i'ulwiiriii The (iliwwy Cutworm Tlic Yrllow-liruili'il Cutworm Till' < 'lovrr ( 'utworiii Till Dingy <'ut worm Till Hlaik Army Culworin Till' Hronird ( utworiii Till' Stripi'il Cutworm Thi' I'air Wi'Htrrn ( utwonii I.ittli'-kniiwn t utworiiiN. ; » HI II 1.' \> 1.' t:> I.I i.i 14 I.' I.t lA 15 III 17 20 21 2: 24 2.^ 2tf 26 27 28 20 :<(i .11 VI i; !:?:() CUTWORMS AND THEIR CONTROL By Arthur (Jibson, Chief Assistant Entomologist. SUMMARY. Cutworms are noctuid ctitcrpilliirs wliich are more or less nhundunt every year and which, as a chiss, rank in 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 caterjMllars, and others in the egg or adult state. A single female motji 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 inch and a half in length, and enter the ground to the depth of an inch or two to transform to the pupal condition, the adult moths emerging, as a rule, in June, July, and August. Under normal conditions, cutworms feed at night. As the name "cutworm " indicates, these caterpillars cut off plants near tlie surface of the ground, or a little below it. Some kinds climb fruit and other trees and destroj' the buds or young fruit, etc. Others feed entirely Inflow the surface of the ground, attacking the roots of grasses and other plants. Cutworms when they become excessively abimdant march ahead in true army-worm habit. The destruction wrought every year throughout Canada by these insects amounts to a large sum of money. In some seasons when they occur in extra- ordinary abundance, this loss totals hundreds of thousands of dollars. Clean cultivation is an 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 caterpillars and pupffi in the soil. For the protection of plants which are set out annually, cylinders made of tin or paper may be placed around the stems of the plants. As the surface- feeding cutworms cannot climb such bands, their attacks in this way will be prevented. Birds, beneficial insects, and parasitic diseases, help materially to control cutworms. Farmers, horticulturists, and others should aid in the work of protecting our insectivorous Mrds. They are among the best friends the farmer has, ami this fact should be more fully realized. Bran, poisoned with Paris green, is the best remedv for the destruction of most kinds 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 should be placed at short intervals apart throughout an infested field. When cutworms assume the marching habit, . moth of Clover Cutworm, Mamesira TVT T^f ™''*'*^ °^ ^^^^^ cutworms belong to the family Noctuidse, of which in Worth America there are over two thousand different kinds. In Canada, fortu- nately, not more than about twenty-five of these have ever appeared in numbers as cutworms, to do serious damage to growing plants. The moths in general are similar m 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 marks, the one nearest the body, about halfway down the wing, 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 inches in width, when the wings are spread. When at rest, the wings he folded over the body. Being nocturnal in habit, they are seldom seen during the day time, but in the early evening they appear in search of the nectar of flowers. They are readily attracted to lights and, for this reason, the bright lights, such as are used along the city and town streets, are often visited by entomologists for the purpose of securing the moths for study At night the eyes of these moths shine brightly, and owing to this and their noctur nal habit, they were given the popular name of "owlet-moths." In England cutworms are known as "Surface Grubs" or "Surface C^aferpiUars." In Germany they receive the popular names of "Krdraupen." "Wurjelraupen" and "Orasraupen'' which may be translated respectively as "Ground Caterpilkrs," "Turnip CateiViUars" and "Grass Cater^ma?^" The French xS^tuell^sT ' '^'"''' ^'"''"'' ^ ^'''^' '*-"'P''^-"; ♦h- '""ths are genf-rally known as ^U.s The eggs (see figure 13, e and /) of these moths are, in general, similar in appearance, being pale in colour, dom<'-shapod ami less than one millimeter in diameter. If examined under a lens, they are seen to be beautifully ribbed, the ribs being joined by indistinct cross-ridges. The caterpillars, or cutworms, of these moths, are also, usually, nocturnal in habit. When conditions are not normal, however, as for instance where there is a lack of food, their feeding habits become changed and they feed by day as well as by night. In general, cutworm.^ 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. Fia. 2. — Young plant showing characteristic cutting habit of cutworms. (Original). NATURE OF INJURIES. Injury by cutworms is mostly effected in spring, when plants are young and succulent, but there are a few species which occur in destructive numbers as late as the middle of summer. As a rule, 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 surface 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 cut, 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 abundant, they will attack anything green and juicy. In such years some kinds assume the marching habit, so characteristic of the Army-worm. In seasons of severe infestations it is often necessary, unless the proper precautions are taken, to resow, or replant a second, or even a third, time before a crop can be secured. 76954—2 10 LIFE-HISTORY. Aitt ,^» «'"*'^°'"™8 vary considerably in the time of their appearance in the different 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 epg or adult state. The moths of the chief injurious species appear in June, July and August. ■" "P^-lus Fio. 3.— Green tomatoes eaten into by the Variegated Cutworm. (Original). leavel'^nV^^"^ cutworm moths, as a rule, are laid in clusters or masses on the wrndownl ' ^.'"'"•'S' we^ds, grasses, etc. They h:.re even been found on to drv ^Tn tK ^""^ °"/^u P.f *^'u^,' ^^" ^« °° ^'°**>''^ '^hich had been hung out fonnJVhil 'Tk°^ **'*' ^''"^'^'^ Cutworm, Mamestra atlantica Grt., we have three kver,*'*^' Ann t' "^P" • '"^ *'" "^.^ honeysuckle leaf, in a compact heap of inree layers. Another species (m confinement ad eggs singly or in clusters of nTome d. ^t^r ?h^- ^^f ."T^'"'' ?^ '^' '"^'^ ^y a ff^ale Varies conSrably in some clusters there will be less than 100 eggs, in others, over 700- in fact a female of one species is known to have laid ovfr 'l,000 eggs The egg's of most mav he T^^Va ^^"^ '? '^'K°' midsummer. Those of lome specierhowrver, may be deposited as early as the end of April. f I Fio. 4.— Earthen cocoon made by cutworm, in which It pupates. (Original). O b Flo. S.— PuptB of cutworms: a, ventral aspect; 6, lateral aspect. (Original). -«^K^**^"ii^- <^"*?*'"? becomes full-grown, it enters the earth and makes an E hln""'■''^'''''*'^4T^^° ^ ^'•«^«'«'^ °^ dull reddish puja, Sid when t?me &' ""Z""' °' ^'^ ^^' T^^ "^"«"y ^'"^'•K*'^ i" about wo weeks' time. Some cutworms, however, do not change to pupce immediately thev complete their earthen cell, but remain as larvie for VrTe ^s the actual period often varying, and tho moths in such ca.ses do not e^e for three an/rte?eVrhe%rh: "^^'^' ^™™ ''' ^'"^^ ''^ ^^*^^P'»- becamffu'Cwn 11 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. Among the jnirasitic insects, the two-winged dipterous flies belonging to the family Tachinidte and the four-winged hymenopterous flies of the families Braconidte and Ichneu- monidffi are extremely important. One of the best known of the dipterous parasites is the Red-tailed Tachina fly, Winthemia guadripustulata Fab., which / ■<^ Fio. 8.- Red-taili'd Tachina fly, enlarged one-third. (Original). Fia. 7.— Spotted Cutworm bearing on front seg- ments, the eggs of the Red-tailed Tachina fly— natural «i»e. (Original). was SO abundantly present in Eastern Canada during the 1914 outbreak of the Army-worm. This fly deposits its eggs freely on smooth noctuid caterpillars, and when these hatch the young Sy maggots enter the body of the cutworm, feeding entirely within and eventually killing the host. The braconid parasites also feed in the larval stage within the bodies of the cutworms and when mature they leave the caterpillars and spin loose white, or yellowish, egg-shaped cocoons, from which the small, four-winged flies emerge. The ichneumonid parasites, with their long ovipositors, puncture the skin of the cutworms and lay their eggs within the bodies of the caterpillars. The maggots live in the caterpillar, not killing it, however, but allowing it to complete its growth and change to the pupal state, the parasites emerging ultimately from the pupse. Figure 8 illustrates the Glassy Cutworm destroy I by a very small hymenopterous parasite which Mr. A. A. Girauit, of the United States Bureau of Entomology, has determined as a new variety of Berecyntus bakeri Howard. In 1914 this Fig. 8. — Glassy Cutworm pnrasitiied by Berecyntun bakeri, var. (Original). species was abundant in the Ottawa district. The number of individual speci- mens of this parasite which emerge from the body of a single cutworm is very remarkable. From three cutworms we reared, respectively, 702, 607, and 541 specimens of this parasite, the dates of emergence being July 15, July 12, and August 12, 1914. Several important predaceous insects are constantly hunting for cutworms to devour. The Fiery Ground Beetle, Calosoma calidum Fab., and its grub, known as the Cutworm Lion, devour large numbers of cutworms. The beetle is brownish-black in colour, with three rows of coppery-red pits on each wing lover. In length it is about seven-eighths of an inch. Another common carabid beetle which destroys cutworms is the Large Harpalus, Harpalus caliginostis Fab. Among the hymenoptera the sphecid wasps dig out the cut- worms and store them in their cells, or nests, as food for their young grubs. A well-known example of these four-winged flies is the Black Ground wasp, Sphex luctuosa Smith. Th''^ is an abundant species in Eastern Canada. 76954— 2J 12 In adflition to the pariisitic ami pmlaceouw inspt-ts which dcMruv cutworms Bome of our native hinls are very fond of these fat, juicy caterpillars. The value of many of our wild birds as insect destroyers should be more and more recognized, and farmers, gardeners, <-tc., shouhl do all thev iwssibly can to protect them from being shot and their nests from being robbed. The meadow lark blue jay, catljird, hou.se wren, robin, etc., destroy every year large numbers of cutworms, hven the much-abused crow is extremelv valuable, as insects constitute Its principal food during spring and early summer, and of the insects eaten, cutworms form a most important part. r o. 9.-Predacf«u9en.-iMios of cutworms: «, Fiery (ir..uns, such as species of Empusa, help to reduce out- breaks of cutworms. On several occasions when the Black Armv ( utworm was abundant in eastorn Ontario, it was largely destroyed bv Kmpum vinscem y. haxter. In helds, as has been recorded by Fletcher, the larv» were seen in large numbers on stones, fences, stems of grasses and other plants upon which they had crawled and to which they had become attached by the fungus. During 1914 a fungous disease was noticed to have destroyed many cutworms in the Ottawa district. Dr. Roland Thaxtor, to wh.-m diseased specimens w<'re submitted, reported that the fungus corresponded in all respects to Sorosporella agrotulis, and that he was so naming it. Cutworms are also ubject to bacterial diseases. METHODS OF CONTROLLINC, CUTWORMS. PREVENTIVE MEASURES. Clean Cultivntion.~T\w eggs of most of our cutworm moths are deposited soon af^'^r the adult insects appear in early or midsummer. As thev are laid chietly on weed.H, or other nearby succulent vi-getation 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 destroys many of the eggs and the young hibernating cutworms, but also numbers of other insects wimh winter beneath fallen plants, refu.se, etc. Fall ploughing should always be practised where circumstances will permit, not only for the destruction of hibernating insects, but al.so becau.se the land will be put into better condition for early spring sowing. In gardens and orchards, all remnants of crops, or other refuse, should be carefully gathered together and destroyed by burning. \\ hen such cleaning up is done as soon as possible after the crop is removed, usele.ss plants, which would be suitable for the moths to lav their eggs upon are removed. 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 eaeh plant at the time of setting out. Tin, of course, lasts longer than paper, 13 and in, thrrcfor*', to be preferred. Piecex of tin about 6 inches long and 2J inches wio protectctl from ilinibing cutworniH in the sami' way. but the mixture should, of course, not he thrown in quantity against the base of the tree, otherwise injury may n-sult from the possible burning effect of the I aris green. As an instance of the remarkable effectiveness of the poisonetl bran, 1 would mention that on one occasion when we used it to protect young tobacco plants on the fentral Experimental Farm, Ottawa, we soon afterwards made careful counts of the dead cutworms near a number of the plants. Around one plant we found seventeen dead cutworms, around another eij,ht, around still another nme, and so on. Only one-half of the tobacco plantation was treated. In the other half, where no poisoni-«l bran had been distributed, the cutworms w«'rc extremely „ , „^. in the first half of July, and did not becoL month. Such late occurrences, however, are The Greasy oh Blapk Cutworm, Agratis ypailon Rett. ilppearance.— 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 I 17 uniform durk gn'any-fn«y, nIthouRh wimi- iii.livUIunI are diridi'illy hlnrkixh. Down the crntrc of the liack in n iMile yiihm lin.', nii- along the xiden ore three other llneM of the name rolour, the upj>er of which on eacii Hide ih the mont diMtinct. H<»me larvip have also yeilowwh pateheH clown the hack. The Nmall tubercleH, or piliferouH Hpotn on the negmentH, are hiack, Khinv, and connpicnoiw. The head varies in colour from almoHt wholly dark hrown, or l.lack, to a pale brown marked with two black daxht'M on the front near the middle, and two nmaller black datthen on the lower part of either nide. The shield on thi" firnt iKKly Hegment in mostly tiark brown or blackioh. The legH in front are pale brown, thone lH>hind bemg Jtimilar in colour to that of the ventral surface of the bocie« is widely diHtributcHl and occurs throughout the breadth of the P>minion. It is especially destructive to garden crops, cabbages, cauliflowers, cucumt>er8, etc., the cutting habit being 'ieveloped to a high degree. It often cuts off large |H)tato tomato, and tobacco plants, usually aljo.it an inch above ground, an" 'I.' wavy linos. Th.. n u.u T..! k, "r':',' "'\'' ^""'- '""^e or 1,-s.s Vl t ^ .•e.t^v: ni;:^^S:N;^^t!.;ir -jii^rT 'r ""* -- -^y -a^ ■. -nglo season. As h; s alrf.a.Iv n^.,^ mon^r T ^l'- ''"'"^ "« much rlamaie n a one season alone, in (a.KU ^ ml tlH nu"e,l 's/''^ '"'^^■"™ ''"''^ ''^-sTroj^ lin ..n.. atta.ks t... all ,a.le„ ami fie^^J^^ al^l ^-f;-';;i/Si^,h..t. 19 liy clirul.iMg fruit tn'.N, turrant lujNhi^ vU-., aithi'H..meniil i.uthr.-.ik ..f tlii>« .ijtworm imjM.arnl in liritiNh Cojiimlun, th<. I.^m III Kiinl. n iro|)« iilon.. l..inR ••normoux. MillioiiM i.f tiif rattrpillarH .Hriirr.«l, anil tliiy f.-.l at all lini<-< of tin' .lay and niitht. TUw wr^,. aNo i.r.-.nt in .'xr.ptional niinilMr^ in Manitol.a an ravaR.H w.t.' rontiniir.l llirowKlioiit that inonh aii.l during .-arly AunuHt, alinont rvvry kind ..f .n.p iH-iuK atta.k.d-- v..K..tal,|..H fruit tr.i... -.n.l fruit. H-rnvrn, vU: In U»l », n.ar I'..rt Hoim.. Ont.. iiH' larvip ilcMri^ycd R.-'t-n t.>inat '" ^VHlth at wi.l.st part ; at tl.o on," i"-t i-Su ^;:;z!:tv!.s;''th:r" '^ '^•^"- -- ^- --. of this aft.T tho nii.hlle of A.igust I "; n ot fi^"\''%"''P'"'"nB *" Jan.- and L-i, passes tho wintor in ("anac i At nA ''•'^"'toly known how tho insott >s n^," ;)<-t«l.or 14, an,l nUo.^^-J^i^'^'^' '""V>'^ h^'vo boon oapturo s ^ .^ •Mdontly h.hornatos in the i)„nal st-.t . U ■^'"""'' ',» '"'"'"'' y««rs, therefore The Dahk-sidei) CuTwoHVf v,.^ or other liKl.t-,-,,l,,ur,.,l tinge The ' r''T''\ '•''"'' ''»ving a pale-gfoonis m".-h the same eolonr as the iJv T !', ""L* .•■''"'■'*1 '•"'""<« are i inv*^'nd' « Fi-"' "Prra.l-natural size. ;-ns,,u^ri:;;- l^il!;:^ •••:;X^-.;- -;:7;imilar i„ appearance, there heing no ".luuigs. 1 ho two spots near the f,.nfr,.„r' '."•"••^^ish, transverse lines tu,\ 21 (•onfiiH'd larRcly to the .'asKTii provinces, ('specially Ontario and Qiiel)rc, where It often .KTurs u, larRe numbers in May and June. This cutworm has vrv wide feediuK l,al)its; it is not only jiarticularly destructive to onions and othe'r veKetahles, its we 1 as to almost all kinds of plants in flower Rard.-ns, hut it also very fn'<,uently climbs small trees and shrubs, doing serious injurv to tl... buds. Owing to this latter habit, many young trees in newly set out orchar.ls are entirely ruined. When prevalent in onion fields this cutworm has the habit of climbing to the top of the stalks ami eating provinces of Ontario and (»uebec, and destroved manv vegetables, including tomatoes, as well as annual flowering plants I nfortunately, the life-history of this insect is not as vet completely known 1 lie moths occur ccmiinonly in many widely separated districts. In Ontario an( t^uebec they are on the wing in August and Septemlx-r. At Toronto the moth has '''•<'" '•'•ll«; buds, etc.. It does not by any means alwavs confine itself to such habft in eastern Ontario, as we have found it, on several occasions, working in vegetable gardens particularly where the soil is sandy. In years of prevalence, however, t !<• chief damage it does is in climbing fruit trees after dark and eating the buds, the young fruit and the ten.ler leaves. Such injury is done in Mav and earlv June, and w_lien young trees— apple, pear, peach, e' —are attacked', the injurv is often fatal. ' 22 to JMaS°PrZr ''; llS!TS„^1r Th^^ '-- ^-- ^-itoba fed and entered the ear hZ jS" "*aS it m *.?""^'* "" ^^^^^ ^7, was Si another year, the cutworms were mature Lri ™«th appeared on July 1. In 5. In 1908, when they were verrdeTrueH v/'i ''"'' *i' ""^^^^ emerged on June mostly pupated by the middle o? Juno Th. '" .^^''-^'^'l^ »* "tt^^a, they had cutworms, and measures about five-ekhths of an i^nh • *",">''";*" ^''"* "^ °ther ^ In eastern Ontario the in««,.t Tii . **" '"'^^ '" length. April 16, 1907, the writer found a f^'f'"*'*^'*' «« ? half-grown eaterpilhu On inch Wow the'surface of he ground hTw^rr.^^^^ °^ *^^^ cutworms about an of an mch), and were hibernatinri'n s.^iT Tk^" '^?'- '°"« (thirteen-sixteenth" previous year. >ernating m soil where cabbages had been grown the The W-marked Cvtwohm, Noctua dandestina Harris. «piculTrrkrr;;emtling"\rTttifr wtiLh"^"*"'''^^ '^y '^^ -"- of con- exception of the first three segments Th^lJ ^'f ^'r^""^ «" **« ^ack, with the f;;^.r"ed with dark brown The slt^orthe wT '1^"'^ ^^'^^"' ''t'^'^ked bright pale ye bw. A nale linp d r.,^ \ J °® ^ ™^'"''s are oordered with yellow markings referred to IZ '^J "f ,^°^" ^^'^ centre of the back- the about the middle, iratde more or ?e!>f- ^"'^.•^^•o^ this Ing the side yellow and dark brown. Th^ Tad is Da e t.T^' ^^nd, bordered above w h each side with a wide very distinct backda^hTl?' '^^iH'^ u^"^'^ *he middle of ously marked in a fine network, or rSatedwiS h''*w ^^' ^'"'^ '' ^""^Pi''"- the first segment behind the head is also d«rk K^ ^ark brown. The shield on feet are pale brown, the others being similar in t?^\ T^' ^^''"^ ^'•""t pairs o body which is not so dark as the bacrnnH °'''"'" *°.*'''" "n'^^'' -surface of the mature this larva is about If inJhes bL ^^?T ^'\T "^ *»>^ ^''J*'^^- When . The moth of the W-markeH r„f»^' ^^""^ ^^V^^ ^^' « and/ ) wings are spread. The f^nt ^n^f IrHfTd^t "^''"^ '^ '"'•h"" when the transverse lines paler and not vLrf distinct TH. ' ^™°>'^'-own colour, the margmed with black, as is also the^nner sTde of th/"""'' *"" °'''"*'"'^^ «Pot is KhinH "^"^ «P«eimens these spots are Sn^ oLth k™ «'-,'*id'>*'y-«haped The hind wings are whitish. tinged^ithTorn!1^S:t tL^i^e'dgt ""^• in cSti^;St:i7r;;S'i^^^ common and widespread species In years of abundancf however it*"!' "!!'°* '^•\^«"*^ "^ ""^ K to all kinds of vegetables-cabbkge eauHfloLr''"' ^"^ T'^ ^^a^age, not only the roots of grasses, and most probablv dZ « T'i' ^eajis, etc.-but also to fields. It also has the habit of nlir^K- ? ^ * ^°°^ ^^^^ of injury in wheit the buds and leaves Apnlf cLriTt ^i,*T' ""'^ '^'''^' and feJdng upon be seen, therefore, that it is a vervZlfw^^^^^^y' T*''' '''^ attacked. It S" ' "Vlf "^'1^' ^r -^^-^ trbriTjJrTd o detoV'eS' *''* ^""«^* ^">' ^-"2 SeotiItSh%lSS.^tmtTa^3i^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ Nova houses during the evening, becomfn J q'uL a^et^ """'^ """*'''*^"^ '^"^ ^^ '"*« hiberlStVliVargr.; s\'lLr r i^h-^'?"^^* •'--• ^he caterpillars and on the firs't groWZl^gltation n'sSn^ Se? I^"*'^""^ ''"°" theS'ce emerging from the^ eart^TS^n S^e-SeS^S^TrdE^aM 23 nn*fnh!r°K'; '^vl'^^^^^u^ ^""^^ ^*^" coIlectcd in the open as late as the middle of brooH [; U J^^**^ri; ^)^'^ "^^ ^"^^ ^'""^^ '" ^'^'^ y^''^' «^ ^^^" « Partial second brood, It 18 impossible to say from our present knowledge. We have on several oceasions succeeded in getting female moths to oviposit in confinement Ems secured in August did not hatch until the end of October. On another occas^Si sSeT: Tode'nTiff x°" '^^^'^^ ''^ ^''' ^^^« '^^' '" P"^^"^- ^ ""^ aspect. (Original). The Spotted Cutworm, Noclua c-nigrum Linn, ilppearonce.— The general colour of this cutworm is nale brownish or ashy-grey, some examples having a distinct ruddy or green^^h^pearance The sh3h?"l-*lf'^'*l' ^^ "^^''^ '* ™^>' ^« recojtnized is the row of Tiangu ar! S the back Th^«e'if ^r'' •^""^Pi*'^"^ on the rear segments) on eithe? side ot the back These naarks are similar to those on the W-marked Cutworm but are not so heavy and lack the conspicuous yellow bordering of those of the^atter caterpillar. Down the middle of the back, there is a pale line! and between this and the conspicuous whitish, or yellowish, stigmatal band, which connects the spiracles or breathing pores on the sides, there is also a pa e line On ea^ h of the abdominal segments there is an oblique blackish dash, very d?stTnc in some specimens, just above each breathing pore. In some caterDillars the tT^LlT"^ 'h fl"«hed with a reddish tingf, Ld the whoTe bod^fs more or kss blotched and streaked with brown. The head and shield on the first seg- Tead and yhl''T*'"^T?- ^""'^ ''^•°T ^^^^^^ '^''^ P'^^^"^ "" the front of the head, and the sides and top are reticulated with the same colour. The front In fhe'l^t^ T" ^"tt'^^J'^^^^ K'"'^ P^'" ''^'"K d"» «nd similarly coloured to the ventral surface of the body. (See figure 16, a and 6). The adult moth is about IJ inches in expanse of wings. The general colour of the front wings is of a purplish-brown, or reddish-brown, som! being much P\t" «iT ;?"■'• ^°^^'1' the centre of each of these wings is a conspicTus £ with ^nnL hl^?'l! P?;':\*°^^'"^j *h« f'-°nt 'nargin of the wing being filled IIJ^Ia ^l f"^ which extends in many specimens to the upper edge of mf r. ^'nrf ^P^ • "^ •^- ^K t'-Tr'-^e lines are easily traced and the outside margin of the wings is usually darker. The hind wings are pale yellowish- cn^nT.r'n?^"/"^^"•*''' ^'^'- *^" '^^''- ^he thorax if of the sam^e gerral theTbdime^ l^T'^ '"' '* '^ ^^°^^^^ '^ ^^-* ^^ ^ ^'^t'-* whitish'collar ; lonn^^^'* ""^ Z.t/e-Ajstori/.-This cutworm is also a very general feeder. In 1900, It appeared in destructive numbers in Ontario, and attacked almost all kinds of vegetation— tomatoes, carrots, mangels, turnips, peas, etc. In one In l')()(l -1 iliist r ,.f 2 e '^i'"^' xi.^ thrcf-quartcM of an tivrv of munKols appearing from August 18 to 2.5. iranSr ve^r n^o^vn r ' •'"*'.*'"' "1"*''' Nova Scotia, which hatched , m JiinT^fi t1 * ^^ ■n'^ "''"'''■*'''««'* ^'""m The (Jlassy Cutworm. //arfe«a (kvastatrix Brace '•4r-i|'« u . Fio. 17 , Moth of GlH»,y Cutworm, H^ena devastatrix; b. Glassy Cutworm-lH„h natural size. (OriKinal). browI'lgTaV^^lhe^'trts^:? iTnc^ !»-'«- from pale ashy-grey to dark one near the'outer maSbS the most cnn"''^' '^'"''V- '*"' •^"'•terminal almost whitish. ()n the inners^de of Zs °;"''"'""""' '*•'"' 'V T"^ ^P^^-imens clashes. The usual round md W n V i '""'' " "T""" "^ '^ort arrow-like the ,^r Tlll^^^ S;^:Srini;i^a[nS'i^''-- "-« •seldoml omeTahott'K^^^^^^^^^^ ''V'"^ othercKrlt thi« species .hie«y upon ^^'i:^::^t:jl '^:r7^-zls T^. Jii,t 25 wheat, outs, corn, and grass in meadows, and, us a rule, is only tronblcsome in grain fieicls sown on grass lands which have recently been ploughed up. In addition, however, to grasses, this cutworm also att.i'-ks garden plants such us cabbages, beans, lettuce, etc. In Ontario it has injure^ P^'^ish spiraeles, or breathing pore, are ewh ^H ?''"*® '"" P^'e yellow. The un.lersurfa..eofthel!?„l7 ^p^^^iS^^^^^^^ \'^ Waekish patch. The The hea,l is pale-yellowish or pifJreen ^ir"^^*' ''P^*^ "^"^ ^^'-''^^ mature this cutworm is abo^t 2 imLTlenith ""'"*" ™«"''"8«- When gray and Sror' 'tITIZ^J a^/^^flr^'' ^°'«- ^"''^^ -th and, m the centre, forming thelette W oSlr f t- r*"'" /"»•-' »'^'"8 ^^itish The round :„„! kidney-shaped m rl a^e Stinct the jat;"' l^- ^'"«' T "l^'^' The hind wings are pale to a little t,«w.„ i *k •'•j. .^ '^*"»8 mostly dark, ami abdomen are of X s^eg";; Jeo^lr L"?!,^*^ '' '^'^ ^""''y- The'thorax spread the moth measures aboriTinrhl^/n'':,!,^^^^ -"gs ^^'^^:^^:S:';!;m;:^ ---" ^Pecies, aid the larv. Ontario, this cutworm has at nSed considerThTnn ^T"^"^' -^^ ^'""^ ^^^^^ '" Its ravages particularly in pea fieWs SmciS ''"/^u ^'^ ''"'1"8 ^"K"^*' ^^om t« the department showed That mucA of "^^he m^^iH «*"", •■"""'"'. °^ ^'"^^^ «^"t pods had been gnawed away I y the eaternillar, n ^^n'^ '°y."'"K °^ t^e pea green port on of the stems, '('lover is aloattacklH ""'" .f" ''" *'"'' '^^^"^ »"d cabbages, lettuce, spinach, and othe vegetables Vve?," ^f T^'^f'' ^"^'^'P'''' eastenl-^Se^rhr TofctStK^^^^^ ^." «"*»- -^ the :ie7mirta^-.t,.rei£-^^^^^^^^ 26, and the motiTdnot^rrgfulKnTsS/" '!,"''> '''' ^'''"^ °" "»«""' the moths have been taken common v n a i*' foHowmg year. In Manitoba and August. commonly m August, and m Alberta in June, July, The Dingy Cutworm, Feltia ducem Walk. the blKSl-^i^/of'jirb^iS^^^^^^^^ t- ^»'« -'^^"« "f very wide dorsal band, down the centre' oTwhVhu"'* ^Z- ^^^ "PP'^^'-ance of a at the caterpillar from the -side he sk n between^Ht'}'? indistinct line. Looking spiracles, or breathing pores, is dark the w.Tl! *^^ •''etches mentioned and the spirach s is of a pale ye lowish cnlmfr' ^^"".^'^^ substigmatal band just below the feet is pale brov^n. 'i^^ra ^"a^e^lXik' f W '"'^ ^"'''^^ '""'^ '' '^- the side. The shields on the back of thTfiii^ i^ ^"'^ ''PP*'*^'" ^^ «Pots along darker than the skin of the rest of the bodf Th "^ ^'V-"«™?"',^ ^'"^ noticeably conspicuous, curved, blackish bands down the l^nt '• '^ '^.B?'-^ ^'P^"' ^*h two marked with a network of (lark brown WK !f""*v"^ ».^^.'t>on it is distinctly one and a quarter inches in 1 Sh Tsee figure 1^17 '' '''°"* "" '"'^ *" 27 The moth (set' figun' I, d) in Rcnoral, i^ l)rown in colour with a purpiixii tuiRi', the f. iinhnns Ix'ing Krcyi.^i. The cross iin<-s arc not well .lcfincots are distinct, the fornu-r heinn open al«>ve an Division of Entomology and Hotany of the Dominion Experimental Farms, in which mention is made of this cutworm, the scientific name of the in.sect is given as Agrotia (FeUin) sabgothica Haw. This name, in fact, has been used by economic entomologists generally in treating of the Dingy Cutworm. FHtin ducens Walk., however, is the common and widespread species which occurs in Canada. In Eastern Canada this cutworm has attacked all kinds of garden crops— turnips, cabbages, etc. Of late years, however, no reports indicating .serious injury have been received In the United States it is an important pest of corn, wheat, early vt'Kt'tables, and has even i)een found climbing fruit trees and shrubs to KH«h|,.s „r.. oftn, att m'k d f' " ,^1 "'*,''""«'' "■•*P"'-aKUH an.l other oak. I.hick walnut, hor... (1, "tm , , .« ''"%"'"" »",«'" ^''un.l .•lin.hinK vounR (frown from .,.,.! . n tho (\ tn Ll"i '"•«""'''' ""'' '""P'''. «hi.-h w..r..|„.inj at Ottawa th. larv. . h .fek uf'^l''''""' VV"""" '" """ "'^♦""'•^ •i-acr." fi..|d of ,„.a. which th.v - . -^'"A .^Pf'^Kl from a clov.-r field to a Although this ins.:' ?i'id v' SriinZ' in"( • "'T'" '"«^S*'" «^-«^ ''"'"''i' '"jury l.y th,. ,.at,.rpil!ars »u v. ■ . ;, t ^from h' """^ "^ ''"' l'"""''"'"^"^ "^ (iuelHT. From larva. (•oll,.,.t,.d t .. « i i ?». * "' P'""^'""'''^ «>f < )ntario and •noths. ,h.. .lat..s ..f^-m. !;.:.! oit'rl^Xn.^^^^ "T '""'^i ••""""' »'"■ -'"' ' hav.. ,.oll,.rt..d the moths from al mt U. .ZhlL" f ' ' •^"•V" ?"• <'"»'^'''''- «'' full i...history .J t^.. ii^i^^tt'^olty;.!^:;;^!.:'^ ^'-^ - •-'>• - ^"-- ''^»'' >'p.-<-i*'s, toapplv anv r.-m-' v It hns 1? """"''rT' '^ **"" ^""n"'- -^'""ws th.> p..n.l,.nts not to' rcstm 1^. hml to a ufth 7 "l'!' ^''."^ ^''' ^'"'•' "''^'i'''''' ••<"t.-s- from tiK. „tta..k and, latltlvy ;!;;;':*;;;;:''hit^:;ted.^"^' '" '•'"^•'"^' "■'•—' Thk H„.,.v.xKn Ctwohm, AV^.w,, „„,,,,„,„ (,^^„ ^^^.^.^^^ ^,^ ^ with .^ISurstrS'lcmSiiai'' ^^""7" '^ r'^V^'-'-rown ... hronz... follows: a .lorsal strip,- down th.mi.S P** '.-'•"'"""■'I stripes. Thes,. are as above the spiraeles. the unner ,f w S U • '' ^T'}' V'" ''^^''"' "" P"<"'' ''i'l*' wide hand helow, hut touddnl tl,, ' ^"''' '*"p *'"; '°'*''''' "a""^v. and a verv Llack, divided h^ the S.r a ami ni? »■'•'• ^tV^^''^'''' »'^'»'i"'' ^^e head, is an.l unmarked. Th.^eet «[..".!. rT Ji^'^' J'^ *""'"' ^^^ -Vollowish-hro^n. posterior end of the h . v there i. *."' L"" '> ,'',"* ''''"•'* "» ^ase. At the upper stripes. \Vhen mLrc U iratut^l Inl'^'"' ' ^^^'"'"^ '^ ''•^'•'''*' »»' the •tiure u IS about an inch and three-tpiarters in length. Fio, ...-. M,„H „ ,„. „„„ C.»,™. .v,*„„ „,^„„^ , „„,^^ C,„.,„,_.., lolour occupies the mi.ldle portion o{Z,.h.!ffh ■ I'riRhter contrasting k.dney-shape.l spots appt-ar^as^nm nat- are s T"' '""'''■, ^^' ■•«»"'' ""^ portions .>f the wings The h n. Iwin^s nJlr ^'" ,'^''™'' "''""r as the out,-r r....iish. The moth ^ith ..^aK ^^ is ^iljIS:! i^ti£"^"^ '""^ 39 Hnbiln and Life-hiMlory. — VVhil«> thix cutworm in coininoii uiui widely jlintri- lnit<' commonly from April to early June. Mature specimens have been frequently met with about the end of May and duriiiK the first week of .lune. In Kastern Canada we have collecte«l the moths in numbers in August and Heptember. The engs are laid in late summer or autumn, and the winter is pa.ssed in the larval stage. On one occasion, I secured eggs from a captivi' female moth on September 9. TiiK Striped Citwokm, Euxoa teHsellata Harr. Appenrance. — Pale brownish in colour, with a slight yellowish tinge on the back, or dorsum. The sides are dull grey, and the underneath porticm of the body, or venter, is greenish. Down the centre of the back there is a pale stripe margined on either side with dark brown. The markings on the sides are as follows: a wide su))-dorsal brownish stripe (enclosing tubercle ii); a narrow, whitish, upper lateral stripe, touching lower edge of sub-dorsal .stripe; a wider, more conspicuous, white lateral stripe, and a wide, white, stigmatal band. The head and shield on back of first segment are shiny brown, the former mottled with darker brown and the latter divided by three pale .stripes. The tubercles on the body are dark bnvvvn, and the spiracles are black. The front feet are pale brownish and the pro-legs, or posterior feet, are similar in colour to that of the under side of the body. When full grown this cutworm is about 1 1 inches long. Klo. 19. — The Stripi'il Cutworm: a, lutcrul iiapci't: h, dorital uHpcrt — onc-quurtiT cnlarg<>h' and tohai-co plantn wi-rn «li'ntr«»yril. IIm ffrdinK hal)itH wi-ri' Himilar to the Dark-nidwl Cutworni, in fart both thtw lati-rpillarj* were found working toRcthi'r in the naiw ficldn. Cabhajte, Ictttici-, Iwann, iMcti*. »tpinarh. and i>tliir vi-jjetahh'H an- frwly attacked, an«l althounh ihit-Hy a uardi-n cnitworm it lia« lM'«-n known alno to injure plum, apple, pear, nn-. This spi'cies occurs ehietlv in the eautern |>rovineeM of the Dominion, liut fortunately it is not a renulariy occurrinn eutworm and, an yet, in Canada haw onlv appeared intermittently aH a dentruetive eaterpillar. In Ontario arid Qui'her we have eolleeteil the moths eommonly in July and, to a less extent, in AuKUst. There is apparently onlv one hriMxl in a year. In 1012, one larva frotn Prii.i-e Kdward Island buried in the earth to pupate on June 29, and tin- moth emerned on Julv 22. In Ontario, in 11)14. the eattrpillars were full urown, and pupati«m was entered on June 23 to 27, the moths emerRinn on July 11 to 10. The length of the pupal state varied from sixteen to twenty-two days. One larva from Manitoba pupated on July 12, and the moth emerRed on July 21). In this latter province the moths have been collected in early August. The Pale \Ve»tehn CtxwoRM, Poromgrotin orlhogonia Morr. Apmarance.-~^A a sordid whitish or greyish colour; no markings on the bodv. The shield behind the head is brown with a whitish stripe m the middle. The" spiracles are black, and the tubercles arc dark brown. Dorsal vessel con- spicuous in some specimens. The thoracic feet are pale brown, the prolegs being concolorous with the bodv. The head is pale brownish with a conspicuous baml of dark brown, or black, on either side near the centre, somewhat after the sides of the letter H; the ocelli are black, the mouth parts blackish. When mature, this cutworm is from about \\ to nearly 1| inches long. The forewings of the moth are of a light, greyish-green colour. The cross lines are rather indefinite; pale, margined with dark brown or block. The round, or orbicular spot, and the kidney-shaped, or reniform spot, are also inclined to be inconspicuous, an 1 more or less filled with brown. The clayi- form mark close beneath the round spot is brown and the spaces on the side, inwardly, of the obicular and reniform spots are also brownish. The hind wings are brown in some specimens, becoming whitish towards base. The wings when expanded are about I } inches in width. (See figure 1, c). Hahiis and Life-history.— Th\» cutworm is an excellent example of a rare and little-known species becoming decidedly destructive. Until 1911 it was not known as an injurious insect. In June of that year reports of extensive injury to grain crops in southern Alberta by a species of cutworm were received by us. One correspondent claimed to have lost 320 acres of wheat before June 21. During May and June, 1912, a very large acreage was destroyed in that part of Alberta known as the Lethl lidge Land District. It was carefully estimated that fully 33 per cent of the grain sown was destroyed. From personal visits to infested districts made by Mr. W. H. Fairfield, Superintendent of the Dominion Experimental Station, Lethbridge, it was calculated that between 30,000 and 35,000 acres of grain had actually been destroyed. The crops chiefly attacked were fall and spring wheat, oats, barley, flax, alfalfa, and beets. The young cutworms apparently only feed above ground for the first few days after hatch- ing from the eggs. In 1912, larvae collected at Lethbridge on May 6 were received at Ottawa on May 10. They differed in size from about half an inch to 1 inch in length. Some became full-grown and entered the earth for pupation on May 28. The larvse remained in the earth, no change taking place until June 18, when the first pupa was observed. The moth from this emerged on July 19; others emerged later, the last issuing on August 21. In 1913, Mr. E. H. Strick- 31 vttrvinK from twi-ntyMMgl.t to '''"^.V-'""^,. ,'\ .,,,. wing. In thr mim.- y«'ar. I iCS half of Sn.t.>mlH.r t h. "•;;»'.'',; ';.'^^,^',. ,:"/;. nunuTous in fi-Mn of ;\rin. wh..at. full -^j- i/::"^,'; ;.•,., l';,.,. In .hi. .IH... wT.. "«<-t > ;r.^^|.n- numlMTM from A ti. 11 iMrHf from [Z w.-r.. foun.l. Th.-..- «''V;"'\T. L\v ^ n V)'- • -m h.-r 3. wh-n a «n.u„ ..f thrn- two to .-iKht.M-n. Tlu- ..-.•on.l fin. K ^^^ ' »'' ',„^j,,„..l in a h.-u..-.l l« ratory, :,nly wan tak..« fn.m fr"^'"" f^''"^; ' '\. Xu.t.-.lly. un.h-r n..rmal c. n...tu.n.. LITTLK KNOWN CITWOUMH. .hunani" t.. various kind, of cropH. ,,^.^^,^ ^,,.. e^,..rpillar. "f /'J^i;''- In thf provmcoH of »»''''»V "r,* .uul (' aurei*ti» (irt. have cttackcl „,rotU aux^liarU Grt., ^^''''^''^Y"'',; ^h'c^lunib u. th.- cat.-rpillar. of Euxon tnanv kinds of Hucculi-nt plant.. In W";'*^ ^^"7 ' ^,,.jy. u^r%v number, in market 3e«8 Grt. have, on several occasions, appear .1 '» ^^;/> ,' "^ ■ ^^ecl crops in the ;rdZ and tho^ of Daroida P/X^tl'oiEut] P^rlnali Morr and FelUa same province. In Manitoba, V"' "V^*^-"' veitetable gar.len., and. m 1914,