228 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



stripped a field of carrots and mangels. They devour the leaves of Canada Thistle, 

 gooseberries, choke-che^vies, &c. A field of oats beside the carrots is untouched. About 

 eighty rods away, on the farm of Mr. W. J ackson, they have devoured a field of peas. 

 After eating the leaves of the mangels they attacked the roots and ate large holes in 

 them. They can be dug out of the ground around the carrots and mangels in large 

 numbers. Kindly tell me what they are and advise a remedy.' — Thomas Corner. 



Like the Variegated Cutworm this is a double-brooded species and is never a 

 rare insect ; but this year it was exceptionally abundant. It was the second brood, 

 the larvaj of which are found in July, which was so destructive this year. 



The following is a description of the full-grown larva of Noctua c-nigrum, the 

 Spotted Cutworm. 



Length, about one and three-quarters inches, by slightly less than a quarter of 

 an inch in width. The markings of this caterpillar are in a general way very similar 

 to those of Peridroma saucia, except that the mottlings are finer and less distinct, 

 thus by contrast making the bands and stripes more prominent. The medio-dorsal 

 line is continuous and not expanded into the yellow spots so characteristic of the 

 Variegated Cutworm. The black velvety blotches of the sub-dorsal stripe are more 

 clearly defined, and the posterior extremities do not meet on segment 12 in the 

 black W-shaped blotch of P. saucia. The black blotches of this line are all separate 

 and decrea-e in size anteriorly, and each one bears in front of it, lying towards the 

 centre of the dorsum, a pale blotch, behind which in the centre of each segment is a 

 smoky shield-ihaped blotch. These markings give a much more checkered appearance 

 to this caterpillar than is the case with the Vai'iegated Cutworm. The sinuous band 

 between the infra-stigmatal band and sub-dorsal stripe is also shadowed above with pale 

 blotches. The ventral surface is conspicuously paler than the dorsal. This cater- 

 pillar as compared with the Variegated Cutworm is more slender, shorter, and the 

 colour is, as a rule, ruddier, the mottlings much finer and the black marking nfOre 

 contrasted with the ground colour. 



These caterpillars when full-grown burrow into the ground and form a cell in 

 the same way as the Variegated Cutworm. The length of time from the hatching 

 of the eggs until the caterpillar is full-grown is about six weeks in summer. The 

 hibernating larvae begin feeding in April and produce moths by the end of May or 

 early in June. It has been noticed, however, by Dr. Forbes, in Illinois (111. Agr. 

 Exp. Stn. Bull. 60) that a few are said to contimie much longer in the pupal stage, 

 even as late as August. This retardation of development is a common feature with 

 many insects, of all orders, and is doubtless a provision of nature as a means towards 

 the preservation of species. 



The moth of the Spotted Cutworm, which, from the markings on the forewings, 

 has been called the Black C Kustic, is a rather showy moth of about an inch and a 

 half in expanse of wings. The forewings are, as a rule, purplish brown, sometimes 

 almost black, in the females, and much paler in the males. There is a black C-like 

 spot in the middle of the forewing, the open part towards the front edge of the wing, 

 and filled with a much paler blotch, which extends beyond the C-like spot and merges 

 with the general colour of the wing. There is great variation, however, in the shade 

 and intensity of the colouring, specimens of both sexes being lighter or darker than 

 the average. The hindwings are dusky, paler towards the base, and of a satiny Kistre. 

 The thorax is of the same colour as the forewings, with a district pale collar. 



The remedies which are recommended for the Variegated Cutworm on a previous 

 page will be found applicable to this species also. 



There were but few parasites noticed among the caterpillars sent with the above 

 letters, but upon one larva three curiovis egg-like bodies were obseiTed, which proved 

 to be the larvse of a small hymenopterous parasite, which has been identified by Mr. 

 W. H. Ashmead, of Washington, as Enplectrvs frontalis. How. These parasitic larvEe 

 were oval, like minute white eggs, at first, but later were attenuated posteriorly and 

 about one-twelfth of an inch in length. They were attached to the back of the cater- 



