66 



agree closely throughout ; the male differs in the broad red sides of 

 the abdomen, but I have scarcely a doubt of its identity." 



No other enemies of this pest have been noted except its own 

 fellows, but its cannibalistic habit is quite pronounced and remark- 

 able. Glover says, in the report already cited, "The grass cater- 

 pillars, when in confinement, very often kill and devour each other ; 

 and when one is maimed in the least, it stands a very poor chance 

 for its life. Several intelligent planters state that, when the grass 

 and weeds are entirely devoured, and no other vegetable food is to 

 be found, they will attack each other and feed upon the still living 

 and writhing bodies of their former companions. One grass cater- 

 pillar, which was kept in confinement, although furnished with an 

 abundance of green food, actually appeared to prefer to feed upon 

 other caterpillars, no matter of what kind, so long as their bodies 

 were not defended by long, bristling hairs, or spines." 



That this is not a practice to which the worms are impelled by 

 confinement, is shown by the fact that the older worms have been 

 seen to destroy the younger by hundreds when a plenty of other 

 food was available, — a fact mentioned by Mr. Howard in the Keport 

 of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1881 and 1881. 



Beyond an occasional dead worm in the fields in October, pre- 

 senting the post mortem appearance of scldajf'sucht, I saw no evi- 

 dence of contagious disease among these larvae, and presume that 

 the Tachina parasite above mentioned will be found the principal 

 enemy they have to fear. 



In the past this insect has not been decidedly injurious in the 

 same locality in the Northern States for more than one year at a 

 time, and in the prevalence of parasitism we probably have the ex- 

 planation of this fact. There is, therefore, little reason to fear a 

 recurrence of the insect in any considerable numbers next year, in 

 the region devastated by it this fall. 



PREVENTION AND REMEDY. 



The female moths, when searching for a proper place of deposit 

 for their eggs, are evidently attracted to the ground upon w^iich the 

 larvie do their damage by the presence of an abundance of green 

 food for the latter,— a fact which immediately suggests early plow- 

 ing of ground intended for winter wheat, as a preventive measure. 

 Doubtless except for the allurement of growing vegetation, the eggs 

 of the imago would be planted elsewhere, or so widely scattered as 

 to effect no appreciable damage. 



Certainly in that region where the grass worm prevailed last year 

 it would be prudent to plow early after oats when it is intended to 

 plant wheat. 



If, however, this precaution has been neglected and hordes of 

 the larvge apj)ear in the wheat fields, it will doubtless prove dif- 

 ficult to arrest their ravages. No opportunities for experiment 

 have as yet offered, notice of the appearance of the larvae in the 

 wheat having been received too late to permit trial of remedial 

 measures ; but it may be worth while to suggest heavy rolling 

 as a measure likely to be practicable and efficient in some in- 



