LEPIDOPTERA. 305 



ned, so as to fit it for the peculiar life of the insect. The 

 last segment appears as if the dorsal half had been cut 

 away; and in the dorsal part of the hind end of the next 

 to the last segment, which, on account of the peculiar shape 

 of the last segment, is free, there open a pair of spiracles 

 much larger than those on the other segments. When not 

 feeding the larva rests at the upper end of its burrow, with 

 the segment bearing these large spiracles projecting from 

 the water. The adult insect is a brownish moth which 

 varies greatly in size and markings. Figure 368 represents 

 what seems to be the more common form. 



The Zebra Caterpillar, Mamestra picta (Ma-mes'tra 

 pic'ta). Cabbage and other garden vegetables are often 

 subject to the attacks of a naked caterpillar, which is of a 

 light yellow color, with three broad, longitudinal, black 



FlG. 369. Mamestra picta, larva. FIG. 370. Mamestra picta, 



stripes, one on each side and the third on the top of the 

 back. The stripes on the sides are broken by numerous 

 oure white lines (Fig. 369). It passes the winter in the 

 pupa state. The adult (Fig. 370) has dark chestnut-brown 

 fore wings and pale yellowish hind wings. 



Cut-worms. Few pests are more annoying than the ras- 

 cally little harvesters that nightly, in the spring, cut off our 

 corn and other plants before they are fairly started. There 

 are many species of these cut-worms, but they are all the 

 larvae of Owlet-moths. In general their habits are as 

 follows: The moths lay their eggs during midsummer. The 

 larvae soon hatch, and feed upon the roots and tender shoots 

 of herbaceous plants. At this time, as the larvae are small 



and their food is abundant, they are rarely observed. On the 



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