362 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 6 



form the results of the investigations and experiments conducted 

 by the Alabama Experiment Station from May until December, 1912. 



During the course of the work conducted last year, the following 

 food plants of L. frugiperda were observed. They are arranged below 

 in order of apparent preference by the larvse: crab grass, Bermuda 

 grass, blue grass, Johnson grass, corn in the bud, corn in the ear, 

 sugar cane, bud and tender leaves, sorghum, millet, Kaffir corn, oats, 

 wheat, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, velvet beans, soy beans, peanuts, 

 string beans, cotton, Irish potatoes, bell pepper, turnips, rutabagas, 

 pecan foliage, satsuma^ orange foliage, cockle burs, Alabama clover 

 and briars (Solanacess) . The only common plants observed upon 

 which no larvae were ever seen feeding were those of the Cucurbitaceae 

 family, watermelon, squash, pumpkin, etc. 



Seasonal History.— The first appearance of adults recorded in 

 Alabama was on May 4, 1912. This record was made in Mobile 

 by Mr. H. P. Loding of that city. Following close upon the appear- 

 ance of the moths, about May 15, came reports of ravages by the 

 larvae in the Mobile district particularly, and also from other South 

 Alabama points. General pupation occurred from May 20 until 

 June 1. The first week in June, however, brought an army of larvae* 

 which wrought great destruction to the field crops. The life cycle 

 was completed again during the next 30 days and in July the 

 infestation was state wide. Two other generations were completed, 

 one in August and one in September. By this time, through migra- 

 tion of the moths and attacks of natural enemies, the pest had practi- 

 cally disappeared from this state. Occasional larvae were found in 

 October and November. Specimens have been observed in hiber- 

 nation in the larval, pupal, and adult stages, about 80 per cent appearing 

 as pupse. 



Life History. — The detailed life history of L. frugiperda is very 

 similar to that of some other members of the family Noctuidae. As 

 before suggested, the life cycle, under average summer temperatures, 

 requires a period of some 30 days. The eggs are deposited by the 

 female during the early part of the night (before 10 p. m.) in clusters 

 containing from 60 to 500 eggs. These are usually placed upon the 

 leaves of corn and cotton plants, blades of grass and other vegetation 

 which will be suitable food for the young when they appear, but 

 sometimes are to be found upon the leaves of pecan trees, orange 

 trees and any forest trees which may be near the fields. The eggs 

 may be deposited in two, three and sometimes four layers or decks 

 when the cluster' is especially large. After oviposition, the female 

 covers the mass with a mouse colored down composed of silken threads 

 and of scales from her body. 



