26 
writer appeared in Cotton Culture (4), the species being designated as 
‘the army worm.” The illustration furnished, however, shows that 
Laphygma frugiperda was the insect under discussion. The account 
of the second author mentioned is made under the head of ‘‘ The grass 
aterpillar,” and refers to the now well-known habit of this larva of 
being frequently found in cotton fields, where it does little damage, 
provided weeds, grasses, or other vegetation more palatable to it are 
present for it to feed upon. He states that the insect was the source 
of much amusement on his plantation of Helena, Ark., during 1867. 
The gist of the story is that Mr. Landon was congratulating himself 
upon having the grass and weeds devoured by this insect in his cotton 
field, when to his disappointment no sooner had the grass worm finished 
its mission and left the rows clean than the cotton worm made its 
appearance, presumably in great numbers, although this does not 
appear clear from the published statement. Dr. Riley’s first account 
was published in his first report as State entomologist of Missouri (7) 
under the name of ‘*‘ Wheat Cutworm.” Injury was noted to wheat, 
oats, and grasses and only in the State of Missouri. 
In succeeding years Dr. Riley reported injuries in various localities. 
In 1870 (American Entomologist, Vol. I, p. 48), in joint authorship 
with B. D. Walsh, he made brief mention of this species, proposing 
for it the name Prodenia daggy/, but without description. Subse- 
quently (I. c., p. 329) he made mention of ravages by: this insect in 
many parts of Missouri and Illinois eee that year, and furnished 
figures of the larva. Later (I. ¢., p. 340) mention was made of inju- 
ries at Ottawa, Kans., and ee “es! and still later (pp. 363-365) 
the moth was figured and described in detail under the name Prodenia 
autumnatis in a fuller account. The last two articles mentioned were 
incorporated in one in the Third Missouri Report, published in 1871 
(12). 
In Glover’s report, as Government entomologist for 1872 (13), brief 
mention was made of injury during that year by this insect to corn, 
grass, and pea crops in Georgia. — 
In 1878 Dr. Cyrus Thomas (16) gave a short account of this species, 
referring to an outbreak in about the year 1873 in Washington County, 
Ill., when ‘‘sad havoc” was done to winter wheat. 
In the year 188i Dr. Howard visited the rice fields in the vicinity 
of Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., and Columbia, 5. C., where injury was 
noted to other crops than rice, larvee being observed eating grass, 
cabbage, strawberry, and bean plants. At this time remarkable evi- 
dence of cannibalism was noticed, in one locality the older worms 
destroying the younger ones by hundreds, and this when plenty of 
other food was at hand (23). 
{n 1884 there was a considerable outbreak in Illinois, as described in 
detail by Prof. S. A. Forbes in his report as State entomologist for 
