REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1898 201 
Harvey, F.L. Me. Agricultural experiment station. 13th Report. 
1897. 1898. Pp: 173, 174, 177 (ravages). 
Panton, J. H. Ontario agricultural college and experimental farm. 
23d Report. 1898. p. 18 (mention, as C. sylvatica). 
MAMESTRA PICTA Harris 
Lebra caterpillar 
Ord. Lepidoptera: Fam. Noctuidae 
The larva of this species has gained for itself a very unsavory reputa- 
tion among agriculturists on account of its numerous depredations on 
various garden crops, it being particularly fond of cabbage and related 
plants, sometimes proving very destructive to them. The present 
season its previous records appear to be outdone by its occurrence in 
large numbers on timothy hay put into the barn the previous day. 
Remarkable demonstration. The following inguiry was received 
from a correspondent of the Country gentleman: 
I have just finished cutting a 20-acre lot of timothy hay, and put it in 
the barn yesterday. ‘This morning on going into the barn we found the 
hay literally covered with caterpillars, say from 14 to 1% in. long, of 
a very bright yellow color, with a black stripe from head to tail; head 
red. Can you tell me what they are? Would youusethe hay? We did 
not see them in the field, but the barn is alive with them. 
Alexandria Bay, NV. Y. Wace B: 
The following reply to the question in regard to the value of the hay 
for feeding purposes was made: 
It is most probable that the caterpillars observed had been feeding 
on the grass and were accidentally taken up with the hay. Their 
appearance in such large numbers on the mow indicates that the majority 
will work their way out and leave the hay, since it is probably too 
hard and dry to be acceptable provender. So long as the hay retains 
its normal sweet odor, even though a dead caterpillar be seen here and 
there, it would be perfectly safe to feed out; but if the dead bodies are 
numerous enough to contaminate it, and impart a foul odor, it would be 
safer to use it for some other purpose. 
In a subsequent letter with the examples requested, in order that the 
identity of the species might be established, Mr Browning stated that last 
year these larvae entirely destroyed his crop of oats on the 20 acres 
above mentioned, and that so far as his observation went, they were con- 
fined entirely to that one field. While it may be very proper to question 
whether it was the larvae of JZamestra picta that caused this enormous 
damage to the oats, still the weight of evidence indicates that this species 
