110 FIRST ANNUAL REPOKT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 



mentions (page 103), that the species is parasitized by a Tachina fly, 

 and by one of the Hymenoptera, of the genus Ophion, and by another 

 minute hymenopterous insect — a species of Microgaster. These 

 parasites have not, I believe, been specifically determined. 



Preventives and Remedies. 



It is not probable that this species will often occur in such numbers 

 as during the last season, or that it will often prove very injurious. 

 Whenever it shall do so, the means that are recommended for pre- 

 venting the ravages of the vagabond Crambus will prove equally 

 efficient against this insect. Some of the applications there proposed 

 to be sown over the grass will doubtless serve to protect grass lands 

 from their depredations. Deep plowing in the autumn after tlie usual 

 places for harborage have been removed, would destroy the young 

 larvae. Simply burning over the surface might fail to reach many of 

 the larvae in their retreats beneath stones, logs, etc. The moths are 

 attractable to sweetened substances, as collectors have found in their 

 sugaring operations, and numbers of them, when just from pupae, may 

 be drawn by a light to a bait of molasses and vinegar, in which they 

 will be caught and drowned. This lure for them should be used during 

 the months of August and early September. Kollmg the ground after 

 nightfall would be destructive to them and to other associated noctur- 

 nal feeders. 



Other means known to be effectual in destroying cut-worms in grass 

 lands might be equally successful with this species. 



Gortyna nitela Guen. 

 The Stalk-lorer. 



(Ord. Lepidoptera : Fam. Noctuid.t..) 

 QUENBE, Sp. G6n. Lep. , v. — Noct. i, 1853, p. 124, no. 195 (original description)- 

 Harris. Ins. Inj. Veg., 1862, p. 440, f. 219 (larva figured and described but not 



identified) ; Eutomolog. Corr., 1869, p. 315 (in potato stalks). 

 Riley ; in Prairie Farmer, Feb. 23, 1867; 1st Ann. Rept. Ins. Mo., 1869, pp. 92, 



93, figs. 35, 36 ; 8th Rept., 1876, p. 37, f. 23 ; in Prairie Farmer, Aug 11, 



1877; Potato Pests, 1877, p. 91; Gen. Ind.-Suppl. Mo. Repts., 1881, 



p. 56. 

 Wlsh.-Ril. : in Amer. Entomol., i, 1868, p. 22, fig. 11 (food-plants and transf.); 



lb., 1869, p. 206, f 140 (in peach); pp. 228, 249 (in tomato) ; p. 252 (in 



corn); Id., ii, 1869, pp 42, 64 (food-plants). 

 Packard : Guide Stud. Ins., 1869, p. 310, f. 241 ; in 9th Ann. Rept G--G. Surv. 



Terr, for 1875 (1877), p. 719, pi. 65, f. 6 (brief notice) 

 Le Baron : Second Rept. Ins. 111., 1872, p. 141, figs. 1, 2 (in wheat). 

 Smith -. in Thomas' 7th Rept. Ins. 111. , 1878, p. 113 (general notice). 



