REPORT OF TEE ENTOMOLOGIST AXD BOTAXIST. 227 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



the. earth sufficiently to get at the worms. In no case did I find the potatoes un- 

 covered or touched ; from the look of it, the pigs must have been at this work for 

 some days. They are about 5 or 6 weeks' old, and seem to have lived mostly on these 

 worms. They have eaten nothing in the sty, except from the mother, until the last 

 2 or 3 days, and they are perfectly fat. I knew they ate a lot of raspK?rries, but 

 coiild not see how they got so fat on them. The potato field joins the pig field, and it 

 is my intention to turn the pigs in as soon as I have lifted the potatoes.' — William 

 S. Jemmett. 



As there is a possibility that the Variegated Cutworm may again appear in 

 British Columbia next season, it will be wise for every one to be keenly on the lookout 

 for its first appearance in any form, and to write and send specimens promptly to 

 the provincial Department of Agriculture in Victoria, or to this Division, so that 

 advice may be given as to the best steps to take under the circumstances to prevent 

 loss. Observations on the occurrence of parasites, and predaceous insects, and of work 

 done by wild birds, poultry, pigs, &c., will be of special interest, and I shall be greatly 

 indebted to any observers who will report to me any instances which may come imder 

 their notice. 



THE SPOTTED CUTWORM 

 (Noctua c-nigrum, Linn.). 



Among the outbi-eaks of cutworms reported to this Division during the season of 

 1900, mention may be made of one which occurred in Ontario just at the same time 

 that the Variegated Cutworm was doing so much damage on the Pacific coast. Injury 

 was reported from Niagara and several places north of Lake Ontario. The moth 

 was also extremely abundant at Ottawa from July to the end of the summer. Almost 

 all kinds of vegetation, with the exception of the various grasses, were attacked, and 

 the larval habits of this species seem to resemble very closely those of the Variegated 

 Cutworm. Young larvae in the looper stage were received from Niagara, from Mr. 

 Joseph Healey, on June 13, who had found the cluster of eggs upon an apple tree and 

 tlie larvse were reared to maturity upon the leaves of that tree. Pupatio.i continued 

 from July 24 to 27, and the moths all appeared from August 18 to August 25. The 

 following extracts refer to two of the worst occurrences reported : 



* Whitby, July 25. — Upon examining some tomatoes to-day, the fruit of which 

 is not more than half grown, I discovered that, with scarcely an exception, the tomatoes 

 were more or less eaten by greenish coloured grubs, the largest of which were a little 

 over an inch long, some being quite small. They ate through the skin and then con- 

 sumed the inside. There were a number, a dozen or so, in each tomato. The plants 

 are healthy and vigorous, the foliage not being affected. There are thirty or forty 

 plants in ihe patch. Every one I examined was in the same condition. The grubs 

 are not very active. As the matter may be of economical importance, I thought it 

 would be well to let you know about it at once. It may, of course, be only a casual 

 invasion ; but, should it spread and become general to the extent that this patch of 

 mine is affected, it will prove a serious matter for tomato growers. 



' Since writing the above I have learned from my man that there were a large 

 number of these same grubs in a patch of oats and peas growing alongside of the 

 tomatoes, and that on a nearby farm there were immense numbers in a field of peas. 

 Some cauliflowers growing near my tomato plants are also being visited.' — W. O. 

 Eastwood. 



* July 30. — As requested I send you some of the grubs from my tomatoes. My 

 man tells me that, upon pulling up some of the affected plants, he found bunches of 

 the grubs an inch or more below the surface, also that they are thick in a field of 

 peas about half a mile from here.' — W. O. E. 



'Pefferlaw (York Co.), Ont., July 30. — I send you by mail a box of worms which 

 are abundant on the farai of Mr. James Cornwall, of Georgina township. They have 

 16—15* 



