321 



consists in the use of an arsenical spray. At the time of the submit- 

 tal of the Annual Report last fall we were unaware of the method of 

 hibernation of the insect, and at that time were unable to give a good 

 figure of the pupa. Recently, however, Mr. Walter Maxwell, the as- 

 sistant in charge of the sugar-beet station of this Department at Schuy- 



.U--' 



Fig. i3.—Lozostege sticticalis: a, eggs, natural size; 

 b, eggs enlarged ; c, cocoon; rf, larval cas«i; e, crc- 

 master of pupa, enlarged (after Kiley). 



Fig. 44. — Loxosteqe sticticalis: a, larva, 

 full grown, enlarged ; b, dorsum of ab- 

 dominal joint of same; c, same joint from 

 side, still more enlarged (after Riley) . 



ler, ]!^ebraska, has sent us a large number of over-wintered cases for 

 the purpose of ascertaining wliether the insect had successfully passed 

 the winter and "whether the outlook was favorable for a good crop of 

 worms the coming season. At our suggestion last fall Mr. INIaxwell 

 harrowed the fields sown to beets last season, since it was supposed 

 that this harrowing would bring the larval cases to the surface of the 

 ground where they would be exposed to the 

 frost and also to the attacks of insectivorous 

 birds and mammals. He writes us May 15 

 that an examination showed that the cocoons 

 which were exposed by repeated harrowings 

 had been largely emptied by the birds — 

 meadow larks, quail, and other species. Such 

 as had not been rifled by the birds were 

 chiefly dead, but occasional individuals still 

 possessed a notable vitality. Upon ascertain- 

 ing this fact he had them plowed under seven 

 or eight inches deep and the soil compressed 

 by rolling, considering that "their chances of 

 seeing daylight were thus rendered extremely 

 meager." 



The specimens which we received were collected November 12, 1892, 

 and placed in a large box of earth which was placed under cover and kept 

 through the winter, exposed to the out-of-door fluctuations of temper- 

 ature, but protected from rain and snow. Examinations at this ofitice 

 May 10 gave the following result: Out of 111 larval cases 121 were 



Fig. ib.—Loxostege sticticalis: a, 

 larval case in outline ; b, cocoon of 

 liarasite in larval case, natural 

 size; c, pupa, enlarged (original). 



