CUTWORMS AND ARMY-WORMS 



277 



cedar, mulberry and box elder and such weeds as nettle, thistle, 

 dog fennel, fire weed and dock. 



In the northern part of its range this species hibernates 

 either as pupae or as partly grown larvae. Farther south hiber- 

 nation occurs principally in the larval stage. The over- 

 wintered larvae emerge from hibernation in early spring and 

 may cause serious damage before reaching maturity. The 

 first brood of moths is on the wing in late May and early June, 

 the second brood in late 

 July, August and Septem- 

 ber. Occasionally in the 

 more southern localities 

 there may be a partial 

 third brood. 



The moth has an ex- 

 panse of li to li inches. 

 The front wings are brown- 

 ish gray, washed toward 

 the front margin with 

 reddish in one form and with yellowish in the other. 

 The round and kidney-shaped spots are distinct, the latter 

 being the darker. The hind wings are pearly white with the 

 veins and margin brown (Fig. 165). The females deposit their 

 eggs in patches of sixty or more on the stems or leaves of low 

 plants or on twigs or branches of trees. A single female may 

 lay as many as 500 eggs. The egg is tV inch in diameter, 

 dome-shaped, marked with about forty ribs radiating from the 

 apex, cream colored when laid, changing to pinkish and becom- 

 ing lilac just before hatching. 



The eggs hatch in five to six days and the young cater- 

 pillars, after devouring the egg-shells, begin feeding on the 

 leaves and buds. For the first week they may feed openly, 

 crawling with a looping gait like a measuring-worm. Later 

 they feed mostly at night and during the day remain hidden 



Fig. 



165. — The variegated cutworm 

 moth (natural size). 



