EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



399 



over the caterpillars was a very satisfactory and speedy remedy. The 

 powder can be bought already prepared at the stores. Care should be 

 used, though, to see that the dealer obtains it fresh from the factory, as the 

 powder loses its strength upon standing any great length of time. The 

 powder is made from the blossoms of a plant similar to the chrysanthemum 

 and is perfectly harmless to man and all animals breathing with lungs. 



THE SPOTTED CUT- WORM {Agrotis C-nigrum, Linn.). 



Obdek LEPIDOPTERA. 



Family NOGTDID^. 



A fat, light colored caterpillar with dueky Bpots taken on the stalks of blanching celery. It is asaally 

 known as the corn cat-worm, because so often found injuring corn in hills. 



A single specimen of this cut-worm was taken July 28, feeding on 

 the stalks of a celery plant after it was boarded for blanching. The cut- 

 worm pupated August 9, about half an 

 inch below the surface of the ground and 

 appeared as a moth September 5. This was 

 the only cut-worm found, although quite a 

 number of the moths were seen early in Sep- 

 tember, and also moths of Hadena sputairix 

 were quite plentiful in the various fields and 

 probably this species feeds on celery also. 

 . ,/; iv-,^^ The c-nigrum is usually known best as a corn 

 ^OCri"^ cut- worm. It is also known to destroy cabbages 

 ''-~^<-i--- ^^^ other garden plants. In 1890 it was reared 

 Fig. 16-The spotted cut-worm B, and here ou the currant by Prof. Cook from eggs 

 moth A; both natural size- (original), found June 26. There are two broods each 

 year, the last one remaining over winter in the grub state. There need be 

 little fear of either of these cut worms becoming plentiful enough to injure 

 the crop seriously so long as the soil is kept constantly stirred, as it is, 

 from early spring to late fall. Should they become numerous, their work 

 on the stalks may prove quite serious and in such a case bait traps of little 

 bundles of clover poisoned with Paris green and distributed through the 

 field, will be found helpful. 



THE CELERY PLUSIA (Plusia simplex, Guen.). 



Obdeb LEPIDOPIERA. Fahuly NOCTDID^. 



Feeding on celeir, lettuce and a few other plants ; a naked, green, span worm, whose body is marked 

 with eight white lines, and is provided with only twelve legs.— Coquillett. 



A single specimen was taken in the pupa stage, wrapped in a white 

 silken cocoon, and this rolled up in what was left of a leaf it had nearly 

 eaten. The moth appeared on the 14th of July. 



In the 11th 111. Ent. Report (1882) p. 38, Mr. Coquillett reports this 

 Plusia as destructive to celery in many gardens in the locality of German- 

 town, 111. It is very closely related to the cabbage Plusia that becomes 

 destructive at times and then apparently disappears for years before 

 again attacking the cabbages in numbers. The habits of the celery Plusia 

 are probably much the same. In the absence of a drawing, a few words 

 from Mr. Coquillett's description may enable growers to identify the 

 caterpillar. The body is very robust posteriorly, from whence it tapers^ to 

 the head. It is a pale green, with a dark line on the back, and on each side 

 three white lines, the middle one longest. Below and above the white 

 stigmal line the body is dark green. The white spiracles are ringed with 



