THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79 



fore wings ; lunule distinct, and a dark shade, enclosing a lighter mark, as in Heliothis, alongposter- 

 ior margin. Eyes dark; head and thorax same as fore wings ; abdomen same as hind wings. The 

 whole under surface the same as hind wings above, the lunules and arcuated bands faintly traced, 

 the fore wings having a darker shade in the middle. 

 Described from 30 bred specimens. 



THE W-MARKED CUT-WORM— Pi. 1, Fig. 13. 

 (Larva of the Clandestine Owlet moth, No.ctua clandestina, Harris.) 



Another cut-worm which has this same habit of climbing trees, I 

 have named the W-marked cut-worm, on account of the characteristic 

 markings resembling this letter, which it has on its back. Its general 

 [Fig. 27.] color is ash-gray, inclining on the back and upper 



sides to dirty yellow, and the annexed Figure 27 

 gives a correct view of it. This species, so far as I 

 have observed, though it has been caught in the act 

 bf eating apple buds, is but seldom found very high 

 = up on trees, but seems to prefer to attack low bushes, 

 such as currants, on which I have often found it. It occurs abundantly 

 on a species of wild endive (probably Cichorium saliva), under the 

 broad leaves of which it frequently nestles during the day, without 

 entering into the ground. Harris quotes a communication from Dr. 

 F. E. Melsheimer, of Dover, Pa., in which this same worm is said to 

 attack young corn, and to feed indiscriminately on all succulent 

 plants, such as early sown buckwheat, young pumpkin-plants, young 

 beans, cabbage plants, and many other field and garden vegetables. 

 Mr. Glover, of the Department of Agriculture, has also found it to at- 

 tack wheat, and I have found it quite injurious to young cabbages. In 

 feeding, it frequently drags its food under stones and other places of 

 concealment. The young worms are of a more decided gray than the 

 older ones, with the black W-shaped marks less distinct, and subsist, 

 for the most part, on grasses. 



The moth produced from this worm is illustrated at Plate 1, Figure 

 13. It appears during the latter part of June, and is, consequently, 

 one of our earliest. It is of a dark ash-gray color, with the wavy 

 bands but faintly traced. The two ordinary spots are small, narrow, 

 and usually connected by a fine black line. The hind wings are dirty 

 brownish-white, somewhat darker behind. It may be popularly known 

 as the Clandestine Owlet moth, and was named Noclxia clandestina, 

 by Harris, though it might be placed with more propriety in the genus 

 Graphiphora. 



Noctua clandestina, Harris. — Larva — Length, when full grown, 1 .15 of an inch. General color 

 ash-gray, inclining on the back and upper sides to dirty yellow. Finely speckled all over with black 

 and brown spots. Along the dorsum there is a fine line of a lighter color, shaded on each side, at 

 the ring joints with a darker color. Sub-dorsal line light sulphur-yellow, with a band of dirty 

 brownish-yellow underneath. Along the stigmatal region is a wavy line of a dark shade, with flesh- 

 colored markings underneath it ; but the distinguishing feature is a row of black velvety marks 

 along each |ide of the back, on all but the thoracic segments, and bearing a general resemblance, 

 looking from anus to head, to the letter W. Ventral region greenish-gray ; prolegs of same color ; 

 thoracic legs brown-black. Head black, with a white line in front resembling an inverted Y, and 

 white at sides. The thoracic segments frequently have a greenish hue. 



Chrysalis. — Of the normal form and color, with but one rather long thorn at extremity. 



