The Army -worm. 



253 



( ( 



lis : ■ * We think we have disposed of the greater share of our 

 army- worms. The birds were our greatest helpers. They came 

 in flocks — blackbirds, thrushes, and even the English sparrow 

 condescended to help." Mr. F. A. Sirrine, of the New York 

 Experiment Station staff, has reported that in addition to the birds 

 just mentioned, the cowbird, catbird, robin and the lark were seen 

 feeding on the worms at Washingtonville, N. Y. He states : 



72.— The Farmer's Friend. The red-tailed tachina fly ( Winthemia 4- 

 pustulata). a, the fly, natiirat size ; b, the fly, much enlarged ; c, army- 

 worm upon ivhich the fly has laid eggs, natural size ; d, parasitized 

 army-worms, enlarged. 



"" It was at first doubted whether the sparrows were in the oat 



field on a legitimate errand, but close observation showed that each 



old bird was carrying from one to four worms to its young." 



After an army's onward march has been checked by the measures 



discussed under the next heading, then turn in all the chickens 



and turkeys in the neighborhood. 



Among the other vertebrate animals, hogs, toads, and frogs 

 often come in for their share of this dainty food. 



Army-worms are also preyed upon by many difierent kinds of 

 insects. A large number of predaceous beetles (including in many 

 cases their grubs also) often gather about an infested field and 

 greedily feed upon the worms. 



An unusually large number of true parasitic insects attack the 



