662 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



Both sexes of the moth are shown natural size (at m and f\ and 

 t'wace natural size (at Tnm and ff) on plate 4. It is one of the most 

 distinctly marked of the owlet-moths. The males are easily distin- 

 guished by their tufted abdomens and serrated antennae. The 

 ground color of the front wings is a smoky gray. The markings 

 are well shown in nearly tlieir natural colors in the figures ; the 

 reniform spot is yellowish. 



Its hahits and food ijlants. — This cutworm rarely assumes the 

 climbing habit, and usually confines its depredations to cutting off 

 garden plants or to working i^i grass or grain fields. Ripening 

 strawberries, corn, wheat, sweet potatoes and beans are agreeable 

 food for it. Prof. Cook says that during the outbreak in Michigan 

 in 1890 he often saw some of them crawling on the top of the 

 ground, even in the hot sunshine. 



The moths usually lie concealed during the day in sheltered 

 places, but they have been recorded as abundant on the flowers of 

 thistle {Cirsucm arvense) and on the unexpanded flowers of Yerbas- 

 cum thapsus. They are readily attracted to lights ; in 1889 more 

 specimens of this moth were taken in our trap-lantern experiment 

 than of anj' other species of insect. Sugar baits also attract them in 

 large numbers.* 



Its name. — When the moth was first described in 1810a8«w5- 

 gothica, it was also given the popular name of "gothic dart;" the 

 owlet-moths are often called the dart-moths in England, from the 

 dart or spear-like streak which many of them have near the base 

 ■of their front wings. 



The cutworm was well designated as the " dingy cutworm " by 

 Dr. Riley. 



Its life-history. — Although this insect is so very common, and 

 often very destructive, in many parts of the country, but little is 

 known about its life. It winters as a young cutworm ; in Illinois 

 Prof. Forbes found specimens less than half an inch long on Janu- 

 ary 2-ith. By April 25th most of the cutworms he collected were 

 from three-fourths to full grown. Preparations for pupation began 

 May 18th, while a few continued to feed until June 9th, and others 



* Dr. Packard once beheaded oue of the moths "at 40 minutes past 9 in the 

 evening. It was liYel.v at the night of the fourth day, flying about when dis- 

 .turbed; but at 7 in the morning ot the fifth day it was found nearly dead, slight 

 •jnovements of its feet and abdomen being perceptible (Psyche, ii, 18)." 



