INJURIOUS AM) BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



401 



spring 



passed in the larval stage. The adults emerge early in th< 

 and begin egg-laying immediately. 



Nature of Work. — The work of the insect is practically the same as 

 that of the common cutworm. 



Distribution. — This is one of the most common and important cut- 

 worms in this State, and occurs in all parts, being abundant in 

 practically every section. 



Food Plants. — As previously stated, this species works on prac- 

 tically every kind of vegetation, including forage, cereal, root and 

 truck crops, flowers and orchard trees, while 

 wild plants share in furnishing it food. It also 



Fig. 402. — Larvae of the variegated cutworm, Lyco- 

 photia margaritosa (Haw.). Slightly enlarged. (Orig- 



Pig. 4 03. — Cocoons of Me- . „ 



teorus sp.,the larva; of which occasional l v cats into the mi d ot small green 

 ^te r ge kiiii r n°g m it he Enirrged oranges. Some of the recorded hosts are: 

 twice. (Original) alfalfa, apple, beans, barley, beet, cabbage, 



corn, grass, oats, peas, pear, potato, radish, tomato and wheat. 



Natural Enemies. — The following natural enemies were reared from 

 the larvse from a single locality in Mendocino County: an internal 

 hymenopterous parasite determined by Mr. H. L. Viereck as probably 

 Meteorus vulgaris Cresson and the tachina flies, Phorocera saundersii 

 Will, and Gonia porca Will. 



THE YELLOW-STRIPED ARMYWORM 



Prodenia prcefit a Grote 



i Fig. mi i 



Description.— The moths are distinctly light graj with very irregu- 

 lar light buff markings on the fore wings. The ground color is rich 

 brown. Near the base is a slate-colored cross-hand and a similar 

 colored cross-band near the tips and parallel to the outer margins. 

 The hind wings are uniformly light gray with a silvery margin. The 

 26— 136G4 



