13 



The moth measures across the wing .75 inch to an inch. 

 Head and thorax are pale leaden gray. Two feelers, the labial 

 palpi, extend forward in front of the head a distance equal to the 

 length of the head and thorax taken together. The fore wings are a 

 dull leaden gray, mixed with ashy and white, especially on the outer 

 pair, and crossed outside the middle by two angulated, dull ochre- 

 yellow lines more or less overlaid with dark brown. The line bor- 

 dering the wing is dark brown, and a brownish cloud extends 

 obliquely in from near the front outer angle of the wing to the 

 second transverse line. A narrow ochre-yellow line, somewhat curved, 

 extends from tlie middle of the base of the wing to the second line 

 near the anal angle. The outer margin of the wing is regularly ex- 

 cavated below the apex ; fringes pale metallic lead color. Hind 

 wings smoky, with lighter fringes ; underside of the body and all the 

 wings pale dusky. 



Minute mites, which attacked the pupte in our breeding cages, 

 and were apparently responsible for the loss of nearly all the larvae 

 we attempted to rear, probably also attack the worm in the field. 

 At Champaign, an undergrown example was found, May 28, infested 

 by this mite, a number of which were running freely over the surface 

 of the larva. 



Besides this, I determined by dissection that certain predaceous 

 beetles, especially abundant in fields infested by the web worms, had 

 also been feeding upon them. Further than this we have no knowl- 

 edge of natural checks upon the increase of the species. 



The injuries inflicted occur so early as to permit a replanting 

 in most seasons in case they should be of serious import, and this 

 species is consequently to be classed with the cutworms so far as 

 the effect of its injuries to corn are concerned. 



If the corn is to be replanted, advantage should be taken of the 

 fact that all the larvae are collected in the old hills of corn remain- 

 ing from the first planting. If the usual practice is followed by 

 plowing up the old corn as soon as the new is planted, these larvae 

 will of course immediately resort to the sprouting grain and con- 

 tinue their mischief there ; whereas, if the old corn be left as late 

 as consistent with the proper cultivation of the crop, the new plant- 

 ing will probably secure a sufficient start to escape serious injury. 

 The web worm matures from the middle of June to the first of July, 

 and then ceases its mischief, so that a little delay in plowing up 

 the old corn may save the new. 



It is easy to dislodge these larva? without injury to the corn, 

 since their presence may be detected by the peculiar appearance of 

 the plant, and the worms themselves are secreted within an inch 

 or less of the surface, close about the stalk attacked. By passing 

 the finger around such stalks, the larvae may be readily unearthed. 

 Where badly infested fields are not too large, and the help of a boy 

 or two is available, I do not doubt that it will pay to capture the 

 worms in this manner. 



As a mere beginning with remedial experiment I directed, early 

 in June, some applications of the kerosene emulsion to larvae _ of 

 this insect enclosed in small boxes of earth, each containing 

 about eight cubic inches. Eepeated applications of one dram of 



