2']2 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



feed upon those substances, although they do crawl about the ground 

 from plant to plant. 



THE DINGY CUTWORM. 

 Feltia subgothica, Haworth. 



We have in Missouri a great many species of cutworms, and while 

 at certain times numbers of these different species may infest the corn, 

 as well as other farm and garden crops, nevertheless, six species are 

 usually the ones found doing the most damage to corn. Of these the 

 dingy cutworm is the most important. 



Like all cutworm moths, the adults of the dingy cutworm are un- 

 attractive and inconspicuously colored. They are about an inch and a 

 quarter across their expanded wings, and the general color of the fore 

 wings is a smoky-gray. By referring to figure 33, one can obtain a good 

 idea of the size and appearance of these adult cutworm moths. Like 

 most of the other members of this family, the moths are nocturnal in 

 their habits, and during the day remain concealed in sheltered places 

 upon the bark and twigs of trees, bushes and fences, etc., and fly about 

 after sundown in search of sweets, and for the purpose of mating and 

 laying their eggs. Tliey are readily attracted to light and will for that 

 reason frequently come into our open windows during the evening. 



The moths appear during August and the fore part of September, 

 and begin to lay their eggs during the latter part of August or the 

 fore part of September, not long after they have emerged. The eggs 

 are deposited in clusters upon the stems and leaves of various trees and 

 bushes, in the neighborhood of which there is plenty of food in the form 

 of various weeds and grasses, also upon the stems of shrubs and weeds 

 and sometimes upon stones. 



These eggs hatch in about ten days, and the young larvae soon 

 crawl to the nearby plants, upon which they feed in case they are not 

 born upon suitable ])lants, and som(e of them may feed for a very short 

 time upon the leaves of trees and bushes upon which they are born, but 

 very soon crawl down or drop down to the ground and seek various 

 weeds and grasses, feeding there upon their leaves. These larvae are 

 not at all particular about what kind of plants they feed uix)n, but will 

 be found feeding upon almost any green succulent plants, whether they 

 be various weeds and grasses, or other uncultivated or cultivated plants. 

 They are usually unnoticed by the agriculturist at this time, and 

 when the cold weather approaches they seek some sheltered place in 

 which to hibernate, doing so under stones, under a quantity of leaves, 

 or, as a rule, enter the ground a little ways at the base of the plants 



