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FAMILY NOCTUID2E. 

 (** Cutworms.") 



''Cutworm" is an appropriate name given to 

 this group, for the larv^ attack the stems of seed- 

 lings,, cutting them through. There are numerous 

 species, and all are serious pests to growers, for 

 tlicy destroy seedlings of garden plants, vegetables, 

 and young succulent field crops. The caterpillars 

 are smooth, varying from brown to green in colour : 

 some feed in the daytime, others at night. We 

 had some fine young seedling stocks, of which 

 nothing remained but a part of the root. On going 

 out at night with a lantern, the pests were discovered 

 and destroyed. The members of the family Cruci- 

 f^rae (stocks, cabbage, turnip) are favourite foods, 

 of these pests. Some pupate in the soil ; others form 

 loose silken cocoons. 



The moths are of medium size, and at time? 

 appear in great numbers. They are usually dark hx 

 colour, with bright, shining eyes ; and from this 

 latter fact the name Noctuidae (from noctua, an 

 owl) has been given to the family. 



The bugong moth {Agrotis infusa) measures 

 about IJ inches across the wings. The front pair 

 are almost oar-shaped, dark brown in colour, with 

 wavy parallel lines running across them, and fur- 

 ther ornamented on the central portion with black 

 and grey markings. The hind pair is light brown. 



