164 OWLET-MOTHS. 
These caterpillars are very destructive tothe strawberry, 
as they not simply eat the leaves but cut through the base 
of the plant, leaving it to wilt. It is not easy to destroy 
this insect, although the free use of arsenical poisons will 
have some good effect. All plants that are seen to wilt sud- 
denly should be closely investigated, and with a little atten- 
tion the culprit will be found in the ground within a few 
inches of the infested plant. It is illustrated in Fig. 162. 
THE FALL ARMY-WORM. 
(Laphygma frugiperda Guen. ). 
Fig. 163.—Laphygma frugiperda Guen. After Riley. 
This insect has been repeatedly found in its larval state 
upon the foliage of the apple tree, though its usual food- 
plants are grains and grasses; it seems to be, however, a 
very general feeder. The eggs, which are deposited in small 
clusters, were also found upon the apple, and the young 
caterpillars which hatched from them were fed with the 
leaves of that tree, and they seemed to enjoy this food. 
There is, however, little danger that this species will] ever be- 
come destructive to our orchards, butit will always be more 
or less injurious to our small grains. It seems to have many 
enemies amongst parasitic insects, otherwise theinsect would 
be very much more common than it is. The moth, which 
varies greatly, and the caterpillar are shown in Fig. 163. 
