672 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



moths were taken ; but the " number of parasitic flies (beneficial 

 insects) captured during the same time was much larger than the 

 entire number of injurious insects taken during the same period ; " 

 perhaps if the traps had been closed during the day, not so many 

 of the parasitic insects would have been killed. 



In 1889, six trap-lanterns'^ were set at considerable distances 

 apart on the University farm for the purpose of determining their 

 value as an insecticide. They were kept lighted every night from 

 May 1st till October I5th, and all insects taken were removed every 

 morning. A majority of the specimens taken were IS^octuid moths, 

 one species being especially numerous as shown by the table on 

 page 064. In 1892. one similar trap lantern was run from May 20th 

 till no more insects were attracted, with similar results. A striking 

 fact shown by the table is the great preponderance of the males 

 over the females ; in 1889, less than 7 per cent, were females, and 

 in 1892, about 30 per cent. This fact has also been noticed in every 

 other species of the trap-lantern insects that have been studied. 

 Many benilicial insects were also taken in our trap-lanterns. 



The maintaining of these trap lanterns and baited traps involves 

 more labor and expense than their doubtful results can repay, and 

 besides they may be a positive detriment by destroying certain 

 beneficial insects. 



Cutworms that Climb. 



Clean cultivation. — If the peach orchards and vineyards that 

 suffer from climbing cutworms could be kept entirely free from ail 

 other vegetation, weeds included, for two or three months after July 

 i5th, we believe there would be much fewer cutworms there the 

 following spring. It is during this period, undoubtedly, that most 

 of the eggs are laid and the young cutworms are getting one half or 

 two-thirds of their growth on the weeds and grasses, preparatory to 

 going into winter quarters. If none of this food is allowed to grow 

 about the trees or vines at this time, the moths will be apt to go 

 elsewhere to oviposit, and what cutworms did hatch would soon 

 starve. 



It may be possible to afterward start a crop of wheat or rye to be 

 plowed under as green manure in the spring, but this can not be 



* They consisted hiinply of a commou lantern set in a pan of T^ater whose 

 surface had a thin film of kerosene upon it to facilitate the destruction of the 

 insects caught. 



