236 Exri:h'iMi:\TAL faims 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



and stems which tiro frequently left lying about the field after the crop is dug or are 

 piled on the top of the tubers before these are bagged. 



As far as is known, this beetle feeds only on plants of the Nightshade Family, 

 which is sparsely represented both in our native and cultivated flora. Wild plants of 

 the thorn-apples, Datura Stramonium, and D. Taiula, as well as the wild Solanums 

 should also all be destroyed whenever they are found growing near crops of potatoes 

 in a district where the Potato-stalk Weevil has appeared. Prof. J. B. Smith recom- 

 mends that, if the presence of the larva? is noticed in the fields, the plants should be 

 stimulated by the application of appropriate readily soluble fertilizers, so that the 

 vines may be able to mature the crop despite the attacks of the weevil. 



THE VARIABLE CUTWORM {Mamestra allantka, Grt). 



For the last three years the moths of this species have been extremely abundant at 

 Ottawa ; and at other points in Ontario and Quebec their abundance has been noted by 

 collectors of insects. During the past summer this moth was one of the com- 

 monest species at Ottawa around electric lights. As it is only of late years that 

 the insect has become prevalent in the Ottawa district, and in view of the remarkable 

 increase in its numbers, it seems not improbable that it may at some time develop into 

 a pest of some importance. Occasional specimens of the caterpillars have been found 

 in vegetable gardens, but as yet no reports have been received of their having done 

 harm to any cultivated crop. 



During the past season a cluster of eggs of this moth was found upon the Euro- 

 pean Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium, L.), and the larva? were reared to maturity 

 and notes taken on all the stages. The larva? were fed to various low plants, chiefly 

 plantain, dandelion, &e., and passed through seven stages before entering the earth to 

 pupate. The eggs were found on June G and had probably been laid two or three days, 

 the first caterpillar hatched June 10, and the perfect moth emerged July 17 — a life 

 period of 37 days. 



As to whether there is more than one brood in the year, is a question which re- 

 quires further light. From the data at hand it is just possible that there are two 

 broods at Ottawa. Moths have been taken as early as May 22, and from that date 

 commonly until June 28, then again from July 31 to August 25. Those reared from 

 eggs during the past summer emerged from July 17 until August 1. A nearly full 

 grown caterpillar was found on October 19 in the earth, near a row of beet-roots, 

 apparently hibernating, about an inch below the surface. On the day previous to this, 

 another specimen which was parasitized was found in the same place on the Experi- 

 mental Farm. Many of the brood of caterpillars reared from the egg, which pupated 

 in July, are hibernating in the chrysalis state. Mr. C. II. Young, of Hurdman's 

 Bridge, near Ottawa, also found out of doors in the fall of 1900 a pupa which gave the 

 moth the following spring. It may be, therefore, that there are two broods of this in- 

 sect in the year, namely, as follows : those which emerge in spring in May and June, 

 either from wintered pupa?, or from larva? which have hibernated nearly full grown 

 and then pupated early in spring, and those which emerge in late July and during 

 August, being from eggs laid by the moths of May and June, as in the case of those 

 reared the present summer. The larvae found in October are doubtless from eggs laid 

 by the moths which fly in late July or in August. The second brood, however, may, 

 as in the case of those reared this year, be only a partial brood, as about half of those 

 reared emerged from July 17- August 1, the remainder wintering over as pupae. It 

 is possible too that the larvae reared in confinement this year inside a building and 

 during unprecedentedly hot weather may have emerged sooner than was natural. 



The general appearance of these caterpillars may be described as follows : — The 

 ground colour of the body which varies remarkably in different specimens of the same 

 brood, ranges from yellowish-green, through a dull yellow ochre, a ruddy brown, to a 

 dark umber brown. The markings may be described as minute mottlings, dots and 



