CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS 



269 



So far as known, the dark-sided cutworm passes the winter 

 in a partly grown condition. In the spring the caterpillars 

 resume feeding and become mature in June and July. The full- 

 grown caterpillar is slightly more than an inch in length. It is 

 dull grayish in color with the sides of the body decidedly darker. 

 Pupation takes place in the ground and the moths emerge in 

 about a month. Sometimes the emergence is retarded, the 

 pupal period extending over 

 eight weeks. The pupa is 

 about f inch in length, light 

 yellowish brown marked 

 with darker brown. 



The moth has an expanse 

 of 1^ to If inches. The 

 front wings are brownish 

 gray with darker, vS jme- 

 times blackish markings 

 consisting cf a double line 

 extending halfway across 

 the wing at the base, a double wavy line one third the distance 

 from the base, a fainter single wavy line near the middle, an- 

 other double wavy line about two thirds the distance from the 

 base and just inside the outer margin there is an inconspicuous 

 line of the ground color lying in a blackish shade. The or- 

 bicular and reniform spots are both present, large and are out- 

 lined with black. All the markings are distinct, including the 

 median shade, but are not contrasted. The hind wing is dirty 

 white shading to brown towards the margin (Fig. 159). The 

 eggs of this species have not been described. There is but one 

 generation annually. 



References 



Riley, 1st Rept. State Ent. Mo., pp. 74-76. 1869. 

 Forbes, 23rd Rept. State Ent. III., pp. 32-33. 1905. 

 Dept. Agr. C-^.nada Ent. Bull. 10, pp. 20-21. 1915. 



Fig. 159. 



- The dark-sided cutworm 

 moth (X li). 



