70 



THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF 



THE SMEARED DAGGER— A cronyeta ohlinita, Sm. & Abb. 



(Lepidoptera, Acronyctidio.) 



This is another insect which is occasionally found upon the Grape- 

 vine, but never in sufficient 

 numbers to do any considerable 

 harm. It is one of our most 

 common insects, and a very 

 g al - d t ccurang on a 

 great variety of herbaceous 

 plants, among others asparagus 

 and cotton, and being especially 

 ^partial to the common smart- 



It also feeds on some shrubs 

 an<l trees, occasionaly proving 

 q iurious, for Air. F. A. 



Nitchy, of Jefferson City, sent 

 me specimens last summer with 

 the statement that they were 

 very numerous on his peach trees, and I have known it to denude 

 both apple and willow trees. 



The larva (Fig. 29, a) is easily recognized by the distinct wavy 

 bright yellow band at the side, and the transverse row of crimson-red 

 warts and stiff yellowish or rust-red bristles across each joint, in con- 

 trast with the black color of the body. When full grown it draws a 

 few leaves or stems together, or retreats into some fence corner, and 

 spins a narrow elongated cocoon (Fig. 29, h) generally white, but oc- 

 casionally inclining to ochre-yellow, some which I have found on 

 Willow being of this last color. The chrysalis is very dark brow l, 

 and, with the exception of a smooth shiny band on the posterior bor- 

 der of each abdominal joint, is rough or shagreened. It has the 

 power of violently turning round and round in its cocoon when dis- 

 turbed, thereby causing a rustling noise. The moth (Fig. 29, c) has 

 the front wings of an ash-gray color, caused by innumerable dark 

 atoms scattered over a white ground, and there is a distinct row of 

 black dots along the posterior border, a more or less distinct black 

 zigzag line across the outer fourth, and some dusky spots just above 

 the middle of the wing. The hind wings are pure white. 



There are two broods each year, the first brood of worms appear- 

 ing for the most part during June, and giving out the moths in -Jul ', 

 and the second brood occurring in the fall, passing the winter in the 

 chrysalis state, and producing moths the following May. 



Handpicking is the only remedy that it has been found necessary 

 to adopt with this caterpillar whenever it becomes troublesome. 



