586 Report of the Entomologists of the 



especially if the holes were omitted, the dead grass and rubbish 

 along their borders should be carefully examined. 



Crops attacked. — Although the army worm feeds on a variety 

 of plants, the grasses and grains are its favorite diet. In most 

 cases, corn and oats seem to have suffered most severely. We 

 have observed the caterpillar this season feeding on timothy, 

 corn, oats, rye, barley, wheat, and the report has come to us that 

 in one section of the state, the bean crop was seriously attacked. 



Crops to take the place of corn and oats destroyed hy the army 

 worm. — With many farmers the ravages of the army worm have 

 doubtless caused a serious shortage of fodder crops for fall and 

 winter feeding. There appears to be no way of entirely making 

 good this deficiency from crops which may be produced this 

 season. \ ' i - 



In those cases where corn was intended to be used as a fall 

 soiling crop, barley and peas may be grown as a partial substi- 

 tute. Tlie mixture may be sown as late as August 10, at the 

 rate of two bushels each of barley and peas. The crop is not 

 injured by the frost and will furnish green fodder during October.' 



If more is grown than can be fed green, the excess may be 

 preserved in the silo with fair success, although the silage will 

 be inferior in quality to corn silage. 



Where crops nre destroyed b}' the army worm as early as the 

 first week in July, Hungarian grass, if sown at once, will produce 

 an abundant crop, which may either be fed green or cured for hay. 



Life-history. 



Name and classification.— The popular name '' army worm " 

 comes from the abnormal linbit of the caterpilhirs, or " worms,'' 

 as they are incoi'i-ectly called, of moving in great armies in search 

 of food. The scientific name of this species is probably Leucania 

 unipuncta, although it has been suggested that this may be the 

 species known as Leucania albilinca or, popularl}^ the wheat-head 

 army worm as, when attacking wheat, barley, or rye, many of 

 the heads are found cut off by the caterpillars. These army 

 worms belong to a large family of insects known as the Noctuidae, 



