EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



591 



THE ZEBRA-CATERPILLAR, 



(Mamestra picta Harr.) 



On July 13 the farm of Mr. Bangkart, near Lansing, was visited, and 

 complaint was made at the time that worms were eating his sugar-beets. 

 The caterpillar was Mamestra picta (Fig. 20), and the effect of its ravages 

 among the sugar-beets was very apparent. This worm is about two 

 inches long, light yellow in color, with three broad, black, longitudinal 

 stripes running the entire length of the body, these stripes transversely 

 veined with white. The moth (Fig. 20) has dark chestnut front-wings and 



Fig. ~0. Zebra-Caterpillar (Mamestra picta.) 



lighter yellowish .hind-wings. The winter is passed in the pupal stage. 



REMEDIES. 



Fortunately, this worm can be destroyed by several methods, which can 

 be varied to suit the requirements of any particular case. When the 

 plants are young and there is no danger in the use of poisons, Paris- 

 green may be used, either as a spray or mixed with flour or plaster. 

 After the plants have become larger and there may be danger from the 

 use of arsenites, then a spray of kerosene-emulsion or a dusting with 

 hellebore or Pyrethrum will do nearly as well. Hand-picking is effective 

 on a small scale. 



