A. E. Yerr'ill — 27ie Bermuda fxhnnh. 



m 



Beet Army-worm. (Laphygma exigua (IIub.)=X. macra Guen., 

 Noct., i, p. l.-)7; Butler's List, etc.)* 



Figures 134, a-e. 



This species, which was first recorded by Butler, L884, as L. macra, 

 is doubtless one of the common injurious species grouped together 

 by the fanners under the general name of "army-worm." Most likely 

 it is the army-worm that injures the common potato to a consider- 

 able extent in some seasons, in the western United States it is 

 chiefly injurious to the Sugar Beet, but will also feed upon common 

 beets, potatoes, onions, corn, and peas, and upon various weeds, 

 especially pig-weeds (Amaranthus and Chenop odium), mallows, 

 ground plantain, etc. 



Figure 134. — Beet Army-worm and moth (Laphygma exigua); a, moth ; b, c, 

 larvae; nat. size; c' , dorsal surface of the segment bearing 1st prolegs, 

 enlarged ; d, its head enlarged ; <>. /, eggs much enlarged; after Chittenden. 



The mature larva has a greenish or olivaceous ground-color, with 

 a broad dorsal stripe, dotted and streaked with greenish or blackish, 

 darkest in the middle ; two pale stripes on each side, separated by a 

 darker hand, varying from gray to black, dotted with white ; head 

 green, olivaceous, or smoky brown, with three whitish longitudinal 

 lines; feet greenish. Length about 1.3 inch (30 to :;i"""). 



The moth is, in general, pale ochreons brown ; the round spot on 

 the fore wings is pale yellowish ; the reniform spot is less conspicu- 

 ous, with a darker center; submarginal line pale; a marginal row of 

 dark specks. 



It is an Old World insect, now widely diffused in warm latitudes. 

 It is believed that it was first introduced into the United Slates via 

 the Hawaiian Islands and the California!! coast, whence it has 



* For synonymy and a full life-history, see F. H. Chittenden, Bull. No. 33, 

 U. S. Agric. Dep., Entomology. New Series. 1902. 



