204 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
potato, beet, spinach, lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album), smartweed, 
buckwheat, willow, spruce, asparagus and corn. 
Though the insect is not abundant on all the plants mentioned above, 
and probably feeds on certain of them only under exceptional condi- 
tions, yet the list is so extended, including 29 species or varieties and 
representing 18 natural orders, that it is very difficult to say what the 
caterpillars will not attack. It is probable that farther study would 
show that the larvae feed on a number of other grasses besides those 
recorded at the beginning of this notice. 
Distribution. This insect appears, from the record of its injuries, 
to be widely and generally distributed over the United States and the 
southern part of Canada. Its depredations have been reported from 
most of the eastern states from Massachusetts to Florida, in many of the 
central and western states, and in southern California and the state of 
Washington. 
Natural enemies. Several parasites have been reared from this 
insect. Ophion purgatum Say has been bred from this species by Mr 
Caulfield. As this parasite is sone which has been found attacking the 
army worm, Lewcania wnipuncta Haw., in numbers, it is of importance to 
know that it also preys on this species. Lzmmneria annulipfes Cres. has been 
reared from this Mamestra (/vsect life. 1890. 3:17). Another parasite 
which has been bred by several observers, is A/icroplitis mamestrae Weed. 
It has the peculiar habit of attaching its brown, ribbed cocoons between 
the anal prolegs of its victim. TZe/enomus heliothidis Ashm. has been 
reared from the eggs of this insect by Prof. Davis, who found that it 
destroyed from two thirds to three fourths of most clusters Dr James 
Fletcher has reared two egg parasites, a Zyichogramma and another black 
Proctotrypid, in large numbers. Prof. Davis also records an attack on 
the eggs of this species by two insects. The adult of MWegil/la maculata 
DeGeer devours the eggs, shell and all, while the tarnished plant bug 
(probably Zygus pratensis Linn.) sucks out the contents and leaves the 
shell nearly entire. The common toad is reported by Mr Kirkland as 
feeding on the caterpillars. 
Remedies. The gregarious habits of the young caterpillars render 
their destruction by hand picking comparatively easy. They can be 
killed by spraying with paris green and water, at the rate of one pound 
to 150 or 200 gallons. In cases where it is undesirable to poison their 
food plants, the caterpillars can be controlled by the use of fresh pyreth- 
rum, hellebore or kerosene emulsion. 
