CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS 275 



are on the wing during September and October. The moth 

 has an expanse of about li inches. The front wings are 

 grayish brown, the orbicular spot small, the reniform spot in- 

 conspicuous. Through the middle of the wing there extends 

 a pale narrow streak in which is a fine forked black line. In- 

 side the subterminal line is a row of wedge-shaped black spots. 

 The hind wings are brownish (Fig. 164). There is but a single 

 generation a year. 



References 



Ky. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 58, pp. 93-95. 1895. 

 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 95, pp. 358-359. 1904. 



The Black Army Cutworm 



Noclua fennica Tauscher 



Throughout the northern United States, Canada, northern 

 Europe and Asia and in the Alpine regions the black army 

 cutworm is found. It is more particularly a field crop pest, 

 being especially fond of clover and peas, and occasionally 

 assumes the army-worm habit, doing serious injury to grass- 

 lands and sometimes, when other food is not available, climbs 

 trees, feeding on the foliage and even the bark. Asparagus, 

 onions and other vegetables are occasionally attacked. 



The larvae hibernate in a half-grown condition and reach 

 maturity quickly in the spring. The full-grown caterpillar is 

 nearly If inches in length, beautifully striped with black and 

 white. The caterpillars transform to light brown pupae in 

 earthen cells in the ground and the moths emerge in about 

 ten days. The adults are on the wing from late June to the 

 last of August. The moth has an expanse of slightly more 

 than li inches. The front wings are chocolate-brown; the 

 spots are distinct, the reniform spot being reddish yellow and 

 the round one gray. The hind wings are pale, brownish on 

 the margin or entirely suffused with brownish. So far as 

 known, there is but one generation a year. 



