588 Report of the Entomologists op the 



peatedly found . . . with hundreds of eggs thrust under 

 the outer sheaths or epidermis, while the last year's stalks of 

 grass in the fields around Washington have been found to contain 

 these eggs in similar position." Dr. Riley also states that, lacking 

 both stubble and fodder stalks, the moths will deposit their eggs 

 in fields of winter grain. In this connection it may be stated 

 that, in several cases with which we are familiar, the caterpillars 

 evidently came from fields of winter rye to attack other crops, 

 leaving the fields very soon after the rye was cut. Dr. Riley 

 found that a single female moth is capable of depositing from 

 five hundred to over seven hundred eggs. This wonderful pro- 

 lificacy explains in part at least why, under certain meteorolo- 

 gical conditions which favor the development of the eggs, the 

 caterpillars appear in such vast numbers. In seasons when the 

 army worms are not unusually abundant it is probable that only 

 a small percentage of the eggs hatch. 



The young caterpillars come forth in about ten days from the 

 time the eggs are laid. In case the eggs were placed on fresh 

 grass or grain, the .young larvie feed for a time in the sheath 

 where the eggs were placed, but finally include the whole blade 

 in the bill of fare. They are full grown in about four weeks. At 

 this time a single larva measures about an inch and a half in 

 length and a quarter of an inch in diameter. They may be briefly 

 described as being smooth, naked caterpillars, moderately dark 

 in color, wath longitudinal stripes running the full length of the 

 body. A broad, dark stripe is especially prominent along each 

 side. Plate XLVIII, fig. 1, is from a photograph of some of 

 these caterpillars. They are represented as somewhat reduced 

 in size. 



The third stage in the insects' life begins when the caterpillars 

 go into the ground or under stones or rubbish to make the won- 

 derful change from an active caterpillar to an apparently life- 

 less creature. This stage is called the pupa stage, or, in case 

 of butterflies and moths, is more familiarly knowm as the chrys- 

 alis stage. A single chrysalis measures about three-fourths of 

 an inch in length. They are at first light brov/n in color, but 



