THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 81 



Agrotis telifera, Harris — Larva— (PI. 1, Fig. 9) — Length 1.50@1.60 inches when crawling. 

 General color above, dull dark leaden-brown. A faint trace of a dirty yellow-white Hue along dor- 

 sum. Subdorsal line more distinct, and between it and stigmata two other indistinct pale lines. 

 Eight black shiny piliferous spots on each segment; two near subdorsal line, the smaller a little 

 above anteriorly ; the larger just below it, a little back of the middle of the segment, with the line 

 appearing especially light above it. The other two are placed each side of stigmata, the one an- 

 teriorly a little above, the other just behind, in the same line with them, and having a white shade 

 above it. Head light brown, with a dark brown spot each side and dark brown above, leaving the 

 inverted Y mark in the middle, light brown, and having much the appearance of a goblet, as one 

 looks from tail to head. Cervical shield dark brown, except a stripe above and each side. Sparse 

 short white bristles laterally and posteriorly. Venter and pro-legs of a glaucous glassy color.. 

 Thoracic legs light brown. 



It varies considerably in depth of shading, and some of the lighter specimens have the lateral 

 stripes quite distinct, and the dorsum is frequently of a dull carneous with a darker shade, divided 

 by a fine line of a lighter color, along the middle. There is frequently a third piliferous spot near 

 the stigmata. 



Chrysalis. — Average length 0.54 of an inch, very pale shiny yellowish-brown, with two large 

 dark brown eye-spots. Stigmata and anterior edge of four largest abdominal segments on the 

 back, also dark brown and shagreened. Two minute thorns at extremity. 



Imago. — As Harris*.; description, as given in his "Injurious Insects," is not very complete, I 

 Bubjoin a more detailed one : Average expanse 1.60 inches. Color of fore-wings brownish-gray, 

 verging into a very dark brown, with a bluish tint at the costa, for nearly one-third the width of 

 the wing. Middle area somewhat darker than basal and limbal, the latter being especially 

 light at the apex, and between transverse posterior and subterminal lines ; having distinct spots 

 on the nerves, and two distinct sagittate marks. Ordinary spots dark, with a very fine dark brown 

 annulation, especially distinct around the dentiform. Reniform spot of normal shape. Orbicular 

 nearly oval, and generally elongated into a point posteriorly. Distinguishing feature a dark brown 

 lance-shaped mark, running from posterior portion of reniform spot. Transverse anterior gemi- 

 nate, dark. T. posterior geminate, dark, projected and arcuated above. Subterminal line light, 

 irregular and festooned. Median band distinct. Subterminal space dark, especially where broad- 

 est, at nerves 5, 6 and 7. Margins dark brown, with a lighter inward, angular rim between each 

 nerve. Costa with usual spots. Fringes light, with a central line, the inner half having dark square 

 spots on the nerves. Hind wings pearly white, semi-transparent, margined behind and veined with 

 dusky gray. Fringes even whiter, with a faint darker line. Under side of fore wings pearly-gray ; 

 hind wings concolorous, but with a broad band of speckled gray on the anterior margin. Legs 

 dark, with light spots at joints. Head often rust-brown. Antennae brownish. Prothorax very 

 clearly defined, and of a rich dark brown at margins. Thorax and body light lilaceous-gray, the 

 t o gulas being rimmed with flesh color. 



THE WESTERN STRIPED CUT-WORM. 



(Larva of the Gothic Dart, Agrotis subgotJiica, Haworth). 



Dr. Fitch, in his Second Report, on noxious insects of the State of 

 New York, describes a cut- worm by the name of the "Striped cut- 

 worm," (p. 313), In his 9th Report, (pp. 245-S), this worm was very 

 fully re-described, tog-ether with the moth which it produces. This 

 worm seems to have done great injury to the corn crop in the East, 

 and the moth is a variety of the Corn Rustic ( Agrotis nigricans, Linn,) 

 which Dr. Fitch named maizi. It will be referred to on page 87. 

 From worms, found in an orchard, and answering entirely to that de- 

 scription. I have bred numerous specimens of one of our most com- 

 mon owlet moths, namely, the Gothic Dart (Agrotis sulgothica, Ha- 

 worth.) As the worms are so similar in appearance, I have called 

 the one under confederation, the " Western Striped Cut-worm," as no 

 other E^me would better characterize it, though it is evidently as 

 coram n ii the East as it is in the West. Its general appearance is not 



6 BSE 



