46 
That the effects of such a season should be plainly marked on insect 
life is not surprising. The following memoranda show considerable 
deviation from the records of preceding years. 
Chinch Bugs were not reported as injurious in any part of the State, 
and scarcely a specimen could be found during midsummer and early 
autumn. 
Canker Worms.—Very few, and found mostly in orchards or on trees 
standing somewhat above the general level. The male moths were fly- 
ing every month duzing winter, and an occasional female was also seen 
in January and February. Probably the severe cold of March destroyed 
a large proportion of the very young larvae, more perhaps by retarding 
the development of the apple leaves than by the direct effects of the 
cold. 
Of the few worms that were found later in the season taking their 
noonday siesta on the trunks and larger branches of the trees, quite a 
number were seen which had evidently been attacked by some Carabid 
or other predaceous species, the skin having been punctured and the 
fluids oozing out with every motion. All injured worms perished, but 
what the assailant was I was not able to discover. 
Cutworms (Agrotis and Hadena).—Vegetable gardens in the spring 
enjoyed an immunity from these pests that was most welcome to the 
gardener. This was probably due to the fact that some of the most. 
destructive species hibernate in the larva state, and the degree of cold 
not being sufficient to reduce them to complete dormancy they perished 
of starvation and dampness or fell victims to the birds, which remained 
with us in greater numbers than is usually the case. My memoranda 
show that very few Noctuid moths of any kind were taken at light 
previous to the middle of August. To this scarcity of Noctuid pests 
there were, however, two notable exceptions—that of Gortyna nitela and 
Heliothis armigera, which have seldom committed so great injuries to 
certain crops as during the present year. About the middle of June 
many samples of young corn and potato stalks were sent me that were 
being bored by the first-named larva, and it was then reported from 
some localities—among others from Kidder, Missouri—as having de- 
stroyed fully one-half the crop of potatoes. Its injuries to young corn - 
were also extensive, but I have no data for making an estimate. It was 
also found in considerable numbers, when very small, in small grain. 
In this it could scarcely reach maturity, and probably migrated to the 
stalks of such more succulent plants as were conveniently near. In the 
case of the attack on potatoes a treatment with Paris green and flour 
was recommended, on the probability that in passing from one stalk to 
another the-worm would obtain a sufficient quantity of the poison to 
destroy it. Of the success of this experiment, if tried, I have not been 
informed. It did not occur in any noticeable numbers in the vicinity 
of Kirkwood. 
Heliothis armigera was very destructive on both early and late corn, 
