On Certain Grass-Eating Insects. 51 



extensive pastures had been completely ruined. The entire 

 destruction of both the pastures and meadows was threatened, 

 and serious detriment to the important dairy interests of the 

 northern counties of the State was anticipated. Hundreds of 

 acres of pasturage in the town of Potsdam had been destroyed, 

 and not a single farm, it was believed, had escaped attack. An 

 upland pasture, containing fifty acres, which, ten days previous 

 to my visit, had afforded good pasturage, was now entirely brown. 

 No grass could be seen in glancing over its whole extent, except 

 a narrow strip which had been used as a roadway when farming 

 purposes necessitated occasional passing from one field to 

 another. This from some unknown reason had remained green." 

 Fortunately, such destructiveness seems to be the exception, 

 though there are a number of species almost as common and as 

 prolific as the Vagabond Crambus. 



In 1885, Forbes, in the 14th Report on the Insects of Illinois, 

 records the destruction of corn by the Corn Root Worm (C zeel- 

 lus). In 1891, L. Bruner reports the same insect injuring corn in 

 Nebraska and several other states. The Vagabond Crambus is 

 also charged with injuring small grains. In Bulletin 14 of the 

 Delaware Experiment Station for December, 1891, the Sooty 

 Crambus (C caUginosellus) is reported injuring corn in that sec- 

 tion, the injury having been noticed as early as 1886 at Bennings, 

 Md. In the Annual Report of the Maine State College and 

 Experiment Station for 1891 a species of Crambus is, charged with 

 injuring the apple in the same manner as the Codlin Moth. Prof. 

 Munson writes : "In many cases the casual observer would 

 attribute the injury ;to the Codlin Moth, when in reality it is due 

 to another in.sect — a species of Crambus. The larva of this moth 

 is smaller than the Codlin Moth and works only in the calyx. 

 This insect was quite abundant the past season. ' ' 



Though the various species of Crambus are reported as damag- 

 ing cultivated crops to a considerable extent, yet in most cases it 

 is the result of unusual conditions. The moths are grass insects 

 and incline to remain in the pastures and meadows. The lar\^ae 

 are also inclined to remain in or near one place. If cultivated 

 fields are near grass lands the moths will fly into them more or 

 less and drop eggs wherever they fly ; these eggs hatch and the 

 larvae seek food. Again, if grass land is plowed there are more 



