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 brought 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, I). C; Marshall Hall, Cabin 

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

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

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

 tana; Washington, and Oregon. 



There are specimens in the National Museum, identilied as this 

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

 identified 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 impossible to 

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

 an exclusively Upper Austral distribution, but the probaljilities 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 affords a striking example of 

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

 and destructive species, sizice this insect is to be classified with the 

 most pernicious of its kind. 



RECENT IN.TURY. 



Recent experience with this speeies of cutworm begins with Novem- 

 ber 1.5, 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 {SttUaria media) in a garden near Cabin John, 

 Md. At Marshall Hall, Md. , where it was found a few daj^s 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 be about four weeks — April 20 to May 18. 



May 15 Mr. F. G. Dickinson, Chesterton, Ind., sent larvtB of this 

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

 attacking earh' cabbage and tomatoes. He said that it was impossible 



