48 N.S. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Fourth Instar. — Length of newly moulted larva 15mm. -16 mm. Head 1.5mm. 

 1.8mm. wide, yellowish white directly after moulting but turning yellowish brown 

 shortly after. All markings, etc., similar to previous instar. Duration of the fourth 

 instar six to ten days in the first brood, twelve to fifteen in the second. 



Fifth instar. — Length after fourth moult 25mm. -30mm. Head 2.5 mm.-3.0 

 mm wide, brown in color. Prothoracic shield yellowish. A black longitudinal median 

 dorsal stripe, 3.0mm. wide at the third and fourth abdominal segments, occurs over the 

 entire length of the body, tapering slightly towards each end. Laterad of the median 

 dorsal stripe is found a narrower yellow stripe, a broad bluish black stripe with numer- 

 ous transverse yellow lines, a narrower yellow stripe, and another bluish black stripe 

 with numerous irregular yellow markings. All stripes are minutely irregular on their 

 lateral margins. The ventral surface is a pale greenish color; true legs and prolegs 

 concolorous with the ventral surface. When mature and ready to pupate the larvae 

 measure 50 mm. -55mm. in length and 8 mm. -9mm in width over the dorsum at the wid- 

 est part. The period between the fourth moult and entering the ground was eight to 

 eighteen days in the first brood, twenty seven to thirty in the second. 



THE COCOON. 



On reaching maturity the caterpillars descended to the ground and worked down 

 into the loose soil to the depth of one half to one and a half inches, there constructing 

 an earthen cell by spinning silk about themselves, which adhered to the particles of 

 soil. The last molt took place in this cell two or three days after the larva had entered 

 the ground and the insect transformed to a pupa. There is little difierence in size or 

 appearance between the male and female cocoons, the female cocoon being 25mm. -30 

 mm. long and 10 mm. -15 mm. wide. 



THE PUPA. 



Both male and female pupae are at first bluish green turning to a blue black later. 

 On the ventral surface the eyes, wings and antennae of the future adult can be plainly 

 seen by the outlines of the raised portion of the pupal case. The male pupa is 16mm. -17 

 mm. long and 6 mm. in width; the female is 18mm. -20mm. long; 7mm. in width. The 

 period between entering the ground and emergence was sixteen to twenty-three days 

 in the first brood, two hundred and thirty one to two hundred and forty-three in the 

 second. 



THE ADULT. 



The male and female moths are almost indistinguishable at a superficial examina- 

 tion. The expanse of wing in the male is 40 mm. -44mm. and the female 40mm. -42mm. 

 Fore wings liver red, with faint wavy markings near the outer margins, and the usual 

 kidney shaped spot found in most Noctuids near the centre of the wing inconspicuous. 

 Thorax concolorous with fore wings. Hind wings whitish gray, usually with a brownish 

 shading on the outer margins. The abdomen is a light grayish brown color only slight- 

 ly darker than the hind wings. The antennae in both sexes are thread like, of a whitish 

 yellow color, measuring 8mm.-9mm. in length. The moths fly only at night and when 

 disturbed in the day will run rather than fly to the nearest crevice or crack and hide. 

 The period between emergence and death was three to eight days in the first brood 

 and four to six in the second. The length of life of the first brood was from sixty-one 

 to sixty-nine days, the second three hundred and four to three hundred and fourteen 

 days. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



The insect is a very general feeder and was found feeding on turnips, cabbage, 



