54 



Another bait, known as the l)ran-arsenic mash, is also vahiable for 

 the same purpose, and is prepared by combining- one part by weight 

 of white arsenic, one of sugar or a like quantity of molasses, with six 

 of ])ran, and enough water to form a mash. This is distributed in the 

 same manner as the g-reen bait. Before setting out plants in fields 

 which experience has demonstrated are apt to })e infested with cut- 

 worms, or in new ground which has been in grass and is therefore 

 lial)le to contain these insects, it is adyisal)le to use one or the other of 

 these Ijaits. 



THE SPOTTED CUTWORM. 



(Xoctud. c-vi(jruin Linn.) 



The spotted cutworm, which is also knowii as the corn cutworm, is 

 one of the best known species of this group occurring in our country. 



Like the preceding it a])pears 

 to be an introduced form, and 

 is common to America, P^urope, 

 and Asia. It was found depre- 

 dating on yiolets in the late fall 

 of 181>1) and llHH) in ditierent 

 portions of Virginia; and other 

 complaints of injuries during 

 the latter year haye l)een re- 

 ceiyed from Indiana, where it 

 was injuring early cal)bage and 

 tomatoes ; from Connecticut, 

 where it had assumed the army- 

 worm habit, and was eating a 

 great yariety of herbage, in- 

 cluding many cultiyatcd plants, and in Ohio, where it was reported 

 by Professor Webster as injurious in wheat fields in March. It was 

 one of the connnon species in Maryland during the past j^ear, and in 

 all seasons ranks with the foremost noxious cutworms o^•er consider- 

 able territory. 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



Tlie moth. — The adult of this species of cutworm is a rather 

 attractiyc and well-marked species. It has ])rown fore-wings, tinged 

 with reddish in light indiyiduals and purplish in darker ones. The 

 anterior portion of the fore-wings is marked as shown in the illustration. 

 (Fig, 18, a.) The reniform spot is partially suffused laterally, and at a 

 distance of about one-third between it and the thorax is a larger tri- 

 angular gray spot; back of this, and approaching the reniform, are 

 two black, velyety spots, and there is anotlier one on the anterior mar- 

 gin, near the tip. The collar is pronounced and of a gray color; the 



Fig. 18. — Noctua r-ni(inun: a, moth; b, larva — some- 

 what enlarged (original). 



