THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



165 



California as the corn ear- worm from .its attacks upon the ears of 

 sweet corn. The larvte enter near the silk end and destroy either the 

 tip or the whole ear. The damage done is often enormous. The fruit 

 of the tomato is also attacked, the worm eating large holes into the 

 bottoms or sides and thus causing decay. In the Southern States this 

 species works upon the cotton bolls and is there known as the cotton 

 boll-worm. 



Control. — The control of this pest is somewhat more complicated 

 than in the case of the ordinary cutworms, due to the fact that the 

 young worms work in the ear of the corn, in the tomato or cotton boll 

 and are thoroughly protected from external remedies. The use of early- 

 ripening varieties as well as a trap crop is highly recommended. Spray- 

 ing the young ears, tomatoes, or bolls with poisoned sprays gives relief 

 if the work is done thoroughly and often, but it must be begun before 

 the worms are inside. 



Natural Enemies. — Natural enemies do little effective work in con- 

 trolling this pest. The tachina fly {Frontina armigera Coq.) preys 

 upon it in California. 



THE VARIEGATED CUTWORM. 



Peridroina margaritosa var. saacia Hlibn. (Family Noctuidae). 



(Fig. 149.) 



General Appearance. — The adult moths, or millers, are grayish- 

 brown with light nuirkings, measuring about one inch in length. The 



Fig. 149. — The common cutworm, Peridronia margaritosa var. 

 saucia Hiibn. (Original.) 



cutworms are rather dull brown, mottled with gray or dark above with 

 a row of from four to six yellow spots on the middle of the back. The/ 

 are about one and three fourths inches long when fully developed. 



