570 Grasses and Leguminous Crops in New York 



The armj-worm caterpillars are most abundant in low, neglected 

 meadows. Here tliej" live in gTeater or less abundance and 

 attract very little attention until some year when conditions 

 become unusually favorable for their increase. They then become 

 so numerous that the food supply is quickly exhausted and the 

 caterpillars migrate in armies devouring practically every green 

 thing in their path (Fig. 612). 



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m 



*":■•*''. '-'^ 



U'^H-i'^'tY '■ -' 



*>' >-it*ff *^^^^'y* "'<J?i> \r'v '-ra.i* 



Fig. 612. Pastlke Di:sTi!UYL;u isx Ak.mv-Wokms. 



(Kiiig;lii I'l.utu) 



Under New York conditions, the army-worm passes the winter 

 in the caterpillar stage, usually partly grown but sometimes nearly 

 mature. These caterpillars complete their growth in the spring 

 and when mature burrow an inch or two into the soil and there 

 transform to brownish pupae about three-quarters of an inch in 

 length. The spring brood of moths emerge during June. The 

 moth (Fig. 613) has an expanse of about one and three-quarters 

 inches. The fore wings are clay or fawn-colored and have a disr- 

 tinct white spot near the center. The hind wings are brownish 

 with black veins. The female deposits her eggs in rows of from 

 ten to sixty on the inner side of the sheath at the base of grass or 



