79 



and thence north to Canada and Alaska. The moth is reported as 

 common in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota, and as appearing 

 very abundant "at sugar" in Canada. It is not uncommon in Illinois, 

 although the caterj)illar has never been distinguished here. 



According to our collection records the period for the moth extends 

 from the last of June to the middle of September, with the greatest 

 abundance in the early part of August. We have, however, a single 

 instance of a moth taken May 19. The species is apparently single- 

 brooded. 



THE COTTON CUTWORM. 



Prodenin ornithogalli Guen. 

 (Prodenia lineaUlla, P. cudiopld.) 



These caterpillars are not typical cutworms in habit, as they are 



often active by day, especially in cloudy weather, and they eat holes in 



the leaves of their food plants 



instead of cutting off the stems. 

 They are smooth, brownish, 



striped caterpillars (Fig. 55-57), 



about an inch and a half long, 



marked with a double row of 



oval-triangular velvety black 



spots down the back. The 



first abdominal segment, the 



fourth back of the head, bears 



a more or less evident lateral 



black patch (Fig. 56) . This part 



of the body is somewhat en- 

 larged in younger larvae. They 



are quite general feeders, and 



have occasionally injured corn. 



The species is common in the South, and extends northward into 



Illinois, being fairly common throughout the state. It is found from 



Massachusetts to Minne- 

 "■^^^'^'^■"^'^'^f^^^^^^^^^ sota and California, and 



■^' ■ "■ ■ '- ■ • * * south to the Gulf of 



Mexico. 



It has been several 

 times re])orted as injuri- 

 ous to corn in Iowa, 



Louisiana, Indiana, and Kansas, feeding both on the lower leaves and 



on the tender unfolding leaves at the tip of the plant. In Kansas it was 



found in early June eating both leaves and stalk of late-planted corn 



Fig. 65. The Cotton Cutworm, Prodenia (n-nilho- 

 galli, adult and larvie. Natural size. (Chittemlen, 

 U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.) 



Fig. 56. The Cotton Cutworm, Prodenia ornithogalli, 

 showing lateral black patch. Twice natural size. 



