ttiE ARMY WORM. 59 



according to directions (see p. 56). and diluted with care 

 Since a little oil will rise to the surface durin"- its use in the 

 held, it is advisable to pour away the last of the pailful or can- 

 ful, and not let it touch the foliage. The Ivory soap solution 

 is safer. It is to be noted that after the young scales have be- 

 come attached to the under side of the leaves it is almost 

 impossible to reach them all with a spray, hence, it is desirable 

 to attack them as soon as they have hatched. In winter this 

 emulsion may be applied to the adult scales as strong as i to 4. 

 Spraying to be effectual must be thoro. 



THE ARMY WORM. 

 Leucania unipunctata. 



The season just passed has been characterized by a large 

 number of complaints of the ravages of the Army Worm, 

 which, upon examination, proves to be the above species. 

 Timothy appeared to be the crop which suffered most, and 

 from reports, we judge this pest may be heard from in still 

 more harmful numbers next season. 



It is probably known to our readers that this is really one 

 of the cut worms, but that it is found some seasons in such 

 numbers, attacking our crops in vast armies, that it well 

 deserves the name given to it. 



Its life history is in general that of any cut worm: One 

 female lays about 500 or more eggs, placing fifteen or twenty, 

 or more, together on a blade of grass. In from six to ten 

 days these hatch, and at once begin to attack the vegetation 

 upon which they occur. Frequently a farmer will see the effect 

 of their work without being aware of their presence. Most 

 of our grasses, as well as the cereals, corn included, are subject 

 to their appetite. It also has been known to feed upon apple 

 foliage, and its eggs have been found on this tree. They reach 

 their full size in from one to two months, and at that time are 

 about 13/2 inch long. They are generally characterized by 

 four broad stripes on either side, the upper two stripes lighter 

 than those below. When full grown the caterpillar works its 

 way an inch or more into the ground, and within a smooth, 

 oval cell in the soil, transforms into a brown pupa not quite 

 an inch long. With us, it is claimed the insect passes the 

 winter as a partially grown caterpillar and finishes its trans- 



