54 



SOME IKSECTS IISIJUKIUUS TO TRUCK CTiOPS. 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



The adult is a noctuid moth, and Avhile the hirva is quite readily 

 leferable to the genus Prodenia, the moth has little of the appear- 

 ance of our other two North American species." 



The moth. — The adult or moth has a wing expanse of nearly 1| 

 inches (33-38™"') ; the fore- wings are dull gray, sprinkled and 

 dotted with brownish and black scales forndng a pattern as shown 

 in figure 8, <I. There is considerable variability in these markings, 

 some individuals having a strongly marked reniform spot, a very 

 prominent blackish posterior marginal line, and a similar black line 



]'"ii;. S. — The somitroiiical arniy woi'iii [Protlenia crUhiniu): a, I'^^ii-mass on leaf: b, 

 egg, much enlarged, showing lateral view at right and top at left; c, section of egg; 

 il, moth ; e, dark form of larva nearly grown : /. //, larva, full-grown, a, il-i). En- 

 larged ; I), highly magnified; c, more magnified. (Original.) 



on the latero-posterior margin. Individuals also occur in which 

 there is a straight, broad, jet-black dash or band beginning at the 

 middle of the fore-wing and extending to the lateral margin. This 

 is the nirj7Y>f(iscia of Hulst. The hind-wings are pearly white above, 

 this pearly luster being still stronger below. The body is brownish 

 gray and the antenna^ are yellowish brown. 



The darkest forms of this species are marked very much as in the 

 genus Acronycta. 



The eggs. — The eggs are deposited in irregular masses, as shown 

 in figure 8, «, closely placed together, sometimes in two layers and 



^Prodenia ornithogalU Guen. ("cotton cutworm") and P. commeUnw S. & A. 



<;g — V 



