54 



SOME INSECTS INJURIOUS TO TRUCK CROPS. 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



The adult is a noctuid moth, and wliile the larva is quite readily 

 referable 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 forming a pattern as shown 

 in figure 8, (/. 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 







Fig. 8. — The somitropical army worm (Prodenia eridania) : a. Egg-mass on leaf; b, 

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

 (1, moth ; c, dark form of larva nearly grown ; /, g, larva, full-grown, a, d-g. En- 

 larged ; &, 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 nigrofascki of Ilulst. The hind-wings are pearl}' 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, a, closely placed together, sometimes in two layers and 



" Prodenia omithogalU Guen. ( " cotton cutworm " ) and P. commelince S. & A. 



