CUTWORMS. 7 



the U. S. National Museum, for the determination of the parasitic 

 Hj'menoptera, to Prof. E. I). Ball, Logan, Utah, for the descriptions, 

 and to Mrs. Ball for the drawings, of the Jassid nymphs. 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE YOUNG PLANTS. 



CUTWORMS. 



Observations were made upon three of the most conunon species of 

 cutworms, and although the facts ascertained are not complete in any 

 instance, so little has l)een written concerning the life histories of cut- 

 worms in the South that it seems well to record the facts observed. 



Reports from numerous voluntary observers in ditlerent sections of 

 T(;xas indicate that injury by cutworms to garden crops commences 

 during the first half of March and ceases from the middle of April 

 until early May, the exact dates depending upon the latitude. Thus 

 in 19(H Mr. G. E. Miles reported that at Friendswood, Galveston 

 County, cutworms conunenced work on corn and potato about Febru- 

 ary 20, w^ere still at work March 30, and ceased injury about April 13. 

 In Cherokee County injury commenced about March 1. In Anderson 

 County the injur^^ was most serious about March 15, subsiding about 

 April 16, and cutworms were reported as being found in gardens dur- 

 ing the entire winter. Little injury was reported to cotton in 1901:, 

 ])ut correspondents state that in man}^ previous seasons they were 

 obliged to replant very largely, on account of cutworms. Planters 

 state that the injur}' is much more serious if during the previous fall 

 there has been an abundant rainfall, so that there is a rank growth of 

 grass and weeds about October 1, and that in the spring the worms are 

 found in greatest numbers at the sides and along the ends of the fields, 

 where there has been more vegetation. 



After studying the following rearing records in Texas and other 

 available data concerning these and other species in the South, the 

 conclusion has been reached that the three species discussed below 

 prol)ably have much the same life history. It is proljable that the 

 insects ma}" pass the winter in either the adult, pupal, or larval state; 

 but the latter is by far the most conuuon method, and wintering larv» 

 of all stages of growth have been found. The moths of this brood are 

 seen about May 1. A second generation of moths appears during the 

 first half of July, the larva^ being found about the middle of June. 

 During September considerable injury Avas observed in 1901 in fall 

 gardens, the larva% doubtless, being the progeny of the July moths. 

 The adults of this third brood probably deposit eggs during early 

 October, the larvie from which pass the winter. It is very evident, 

 however, that there is great variation in the life history, in Texas even 

 greater than elsewhere, for, with the open winters and with but little 

 if any frost in the southern half of the State, there is, doubtless, very 



