56 



DISTRIBUTION. 



This species is common to North America, northeastern Europe, and 

 northern Asia, and is probably not indigenous to our country, but was 

 introduced many j^ears ago, as has been known to collectors for a con- 

 siderable period, and was perhaps brouglit from the mother country 

 in soil about nurserj^ stock or potted plants. 



The list of localities which we are at present able to furnish is scarcely 

 indicative of the insect's range. The following are definitely known: 

 Schenectady, N. Y.; New Jersey, common throughout the State 

 (Smith); Storrs, Conn.; Washington, D. C; Marshall Hall, Cabin 

 John, and Bennings, Md.; Richmond and Poindexter, Va. ; Dayton, 

 Ohio (Pilate); Kentland and Chesterton, Ind. ; Urlmna, Sheldon, and 

 elsewhere in Illinois; Stratmann, Mo.; Volga, S. Dak. (Truman); Mon- 

 tana; Washington, and Oregon. 



There are specimens in the National Museum, identilicd as this 

 species, from Kadiak and Popof islands, Alaska, and we have larvse, 

 identihed as this same species from Savannah, Ga. There is nothing 

 to indicate, however, that the species is established in Alaska; in short, 

 nothing is more likely than that the insect was transported from farther 

 south on the coast — for example, from Washington or Oregon; and the 

 Georgia locality is also doubtful. 



With so short a list of definite localities, it is practically impossil )le to 

 define the insect's geographical limits. The list alone would indicate 

 an exclusively Upper Austral distribution, but the probabilities are 

 that this cutworm inhabits also Transition and perhaps Lower Austral 

 territory. A perusal of all available lists of moths might add some- 

 what to our knowledge. The species aflords a striking example of 

 how little we know of the distribution of some of our most common 

 and destructive species, since this insect is to bo classified with the 

 most pernicious of its kind. 



RKCENT IN.TURY. 



Ivecent experience with this species of cutworm begins with Novem- 

 ber 15, 1899, when Hon. G. W. Koiner, Richmond, Va., sent speci- 

 mens among others, that were depredating on violet beds in Louisa 

 County of that State. The moths issued February 1, 1900. 



April 2, 1900, and later this cutworm was taken, together with others, 

 feeding on chickweed {Sfellarla media) in a gardoi near Cabin John, 

 Md. At Marshall Hall, Md. , where it was found a few days later, 

 it was the most abundant species of cutworm. From this material 

 the moths began issuing May 10. The period of the pupal stage was 

 found to 1)C about four weeks — April 20 to ^Nlay IS. 



May 1.5 Mr. F. G. Dickinson, Chesterton, Ind., sent larvte of this 

 species, with the statement that it was one of the cutworms found there 

 attacking earlv cabl)age and tomatoes. He said that it was impossible 



