232 Forty-fifth Report on the State Museum. 



and then seek the best remedy, either from books authoritative 

 upon the subject, or from some one prepared and competent to 

 give advice. 



If the study of our common insects had that place in our public 

 schools and other institutions of learning that its practical import- 

 ance entitles it to, the labor of the economic entomologist of the 

 present day would be lightened, and much of what may be 

 regarded as preliminary instruction would be spared him. It 

 should not be necessary in a paper like the present to tell what a 

 " cut-worm " is, yet if I give its principal features, and those of the 

 winged form into which it develops, I thinlc that I shall be impart- 

 ing serviceable and acceptable information to some. 



What are cut-worms f • — Cut-worms are the caterpillars of an 

 extensive family of moths known by the name of Noctuidae^ from 

 their coming abroad for flight chiefly during the night; the moths 

 (nocturnal) united with the butterflies (diurnal) foi*ming the order 

 of Lepidoptera, so named from the myriads of small scales which, 

 in symmetrical arrangement like the shingles or tiles of a roof, 

 cover and color both the upper and lower surfaces of the mem- 

 branous and veined transparent wings. 



There are many distinct species of cut-worms, but we can not 

 give even their approximate number. Most of them belong to 

 three genera of the Noctuidm; viz., Agrotis, Mamestra, and 

 Hadena. of which about 400 United States speciee have been 

 described. Some of these are known not to possess true cut-worm 

 habits, but of much the larger number the catei^^illar stage 

 remains unknown. 



The following are the principal cut-worm features possessed in 

 common by nearly all the species, and which should suifice for their 

 recognition. Wlien full-grown, thej' measure from an inch and a 

 quarter to nearly two inches in length. They have sixteen feet, of 

 which the three anterior pairs (true legs) are fjointed, and the five 

 remaining paii's (prolegs), stout, blunt, and armed with minute 

 hooks for clasping. In form they aa^e stout, tapering slightly toward 

 the extremities. In appearance they are usually dull-colored, 

 greasy-looking, dingy-brown, gray or greenish, with some light 



