Insects Affecting the Strawberry. 55 



Another minor enemy of the plant, capable, however, of possible mischief, 

 is a caterpillar covered with red bristles proceeding from crimson warts, with 

 a bright yellow band along the sides, which may frequently be found in June 

 and again in August or September. It is about one and a quarter inches 

 long, and the body above is of a dull velvety black. On each side of a line 

 drawn down the center of the back is a row of bright yellow spots, two or 

 more on each segment, and below this and close to the under surface is a 

 bright yellow band, deeply indented on each segment, the indentations being 

 on a line with the rows of tubercles. The spiracles or breathing holes are 

 pure white, and are placed in the indented portions of the yellow band ; 

 there are also a few whitish dots scattered irregularly over the surface of the 

 body. The under side is dull reddish along the middle, and brownish black 

 along the sides; the feet are of a shining black, and slightly hairy, while the 

 thick, fleshy hinder legs, called the prolegs, are reddish, tipped with brown, 

 with a cluster of short hairs on the outside of each. This caterpillar is con- 

 spicuous from its beauty, and at first one can scarcely believe that such a 

 handsome caterpillar could produce so plain and quietdooking a moth. It 

 is a general feeder, attacking the strawberry in common with several other 

 plants. 



The chrysalis is very dark brown, and with the exception of a smooth, 

 shiny band on the posterior border of each abdominal joint, is rough or sha- 

 greened. It has the power of violently turning round and round in its 

 cocoon when disturbed, thereby causing a rustling noise. 



The moth has the front wings of an ash-gray color, caused by innumera- 

 ble dark atoms scattered over a white ground, and there is a distinct row of 

 black dots along the posterior border, a more or less distinct black zigzag 

 line across the outer fourth, and some dusky spots just above the middle of 

 the wing. The hind wings are pure white. 



There are two broods each year, the first brood of worms ajjpearing for 

 the most part during June, and giving out the moths in July, and the second 

 brood occurring in the fall, passing the winter in the chrysalis state, and pro- 

 ducing moths the following May. 



This, like the other late leaf-eating larva^, may be attacked by 'nsect poisons, 

 if it should chance to become worthy of so much attention. 



The Army Worm. Leucania unipuncta, Haw. 



Order Lepidoptera, Family Noctuiche. 



Passing mention may be made in this connection of this destructive pest, 

 which last year swept through strawberry fields in Southern Illinois, strip- 

 ping the plants of foliage, and leaving the unripe fruit upon the ground, 

 gnawed from the stems. 



The fields might be protected from its attack by the barriers used by grain 

 farmers to arrest its march. The most successful of these is a deep furrow 

 plowed around the field, the inner wall of which may be made slanting out- 



