274 MANUAL OF VEGETABLE-GARDEN INSECTS 



The moth has an expanse of about li inches. In the female 

 the front wings are dark grayish brown with the outer border 

 and a broad costal band clay-color. The orbicular and reni- 

 form spots are small, distinct and connected by a black bar 

 (Fig. 163). In the male the front wings are lighter and the 

 hind wings are pearl-white with the front margin brownish. 

 The eggs are w^hite, about air inch in diameter and beautifully 

 ribbed, one third of the ribs reaching the apex. The eggs hatch 

 in about four days. 



References 



French, Can. Ent., 14, pp. 207-210. 1882. 

 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 95, p. 362. 1904. 



The Clay-Backed Cutworm 



Feltia gladiaria Morrison 



The clay-backed cutworm is w-idely distributed in North 

 America east of the Rockies. Its food plants include potato, 

 tomato, sw^eet potato, bean, cabbage, onion, corn, clover, oats 

 and grasses. This species, w^hen abundant and lacking food, 



may adopt the army-worm 

 habit. 



This cutw'orm hibernates 

 in the larval condition 

 and matures in early spring. 

 The full-grow^n caterpillar 

 is nearly li inches in 

 length, dull greenish to 

 dark brown w^ith a broad 

 median dorsal stripe vary- 

 ing in color from straw-yellow to brown. This median 

 stripe has given it the common name of clay-backed cut- 

 worm. The larvae enter the ground in June and remain 

 in the pupal condition for nearly six weeks. The moths 



Fig. 1G4. — The clay-backed cutworm 

 moth (X If). 



