346 INSECTS IXJURIOUS TO \^GETATION. 



are hatched early in May; the cut-worms continue their depre- 

 dations about four weeks, then cast their skin and become 

 pupEe or chrysalids in the earth, a few inches below the surface 

 of the ground ; the pupa state lasts four weeks, and the moth 

 comes out about the middle of July; it conceals itself in the 

 crevices of buildings and beneath the bark of trees, and is 

 never seen during the day; about sunset it leaves its hiding- 

 place, is constantly on the wing, is very troublesome about the 

 candles in houses, flies rapidly, and is not easily taken.* From 

 what is known respecting the history of the other kinds of 

 Ag-rotis, and from the size that the cabbage cut-worms are 

 found to have attained in May, I am led to infer that they 

 must generally be hatched in the previous autumn, and that, 

 after feeding awhile on such food as they can find immediately 

 under the surface of the soil, they descend deeper into the 

 ground and remain curled up, in little cavities which each one 

 makes for itself in the earth, till the following spring. 



Dr. F. E. Melsheimer, of Dover, Pennsylvania, has favored 

 me with the wing of a moth, which he states is produced from 

 the corn cut-worm. The following remarks on this insect are 

 extracted from his letters. " There are several species of 

 Agrotis, the larvEe of which are injurious to culinary plants; 

 but the chief culprit with us is the same as that which is 

 destructive to young maize." " The corn cut- worms make 

 their appearance in great numbers at irregular periods, and 

 confine themselves in their devastations to no particular vege- 

 tables, all that are succulent being relished by these indiscrim- 

 inate devourers; but, if their choice is not limited, they prefer 

 maize plants when not more than a few inches above the 

 earth, early sown buckwheat, young pumpkin-plants, young 

 beans, cabbage-plants, and many other field and garden vege- 

 tables." "When first disclosed from the eggs they subsist 

 on the various grasses. They descend in the ground on the 

 approach of severe frosts, and reappear in the spring about 

 half grown. They seek their food in the night or in cloudy 

 weather, and retire before sunrise into the ground, or beneath 



* "American Journal of Science," Vol. I., p. 151. 



