486 THE SMALL GRAINS 



as to which species he has in hand. It has recently been 

 determined that the fall army worm is native to southern 

 Texas and Florida. In years of excessive abundance 

 the swarms of moths migrate northward before depositing 

 their eggs, the brood of moths resulting therefrom doing 

 likewise. Thus the pest never reaches the northern 

 states until the late summer or early autumn months. 

 The injury to crops by this insect is confined chiefly to 

 corn and alfalfa in the southern states, where it is known 

 as the "grassworm," but in the northern states the young 

 winter wheat sometimes suffers severely. The moth has 

 bluish-gray fore wings, and cream-colored hind wings, and 

 varies greatly in the markings of the former. As this in- 

 sect pupates within an inch or two of the surface of the soil, 

 it is easily destroyed by harrowing at this time. It is un- 

 able to survive the winter in regions visited by severe 

 frosts. 



The wheat-head army worm has been destructive in 

 recent years in Iowa. The moth is about the size of the 

 army worm moth, but is pale yellow or straw color. It 

 flies only at night. The caterpillar varies in color, but 

 resembles generally the cutworms and army worm, but 

 differs in its habit of attacking spikes of wheat and timothy. 



The moths lay eggs early in May. The caterpillars feed on the 

 blades until the kernels are "in the milk," then attack the wheat 

 spikes. When full grown they enter the ground, pupate, and pro- 

 duce the moths the middle of July. The second brood of caterpil- 

 lars feed on grasses and other green crops in the fall, pupate in the 

 soil, and pass the winter there. 



Grass lands and waste places should be burned over, 

 for prevention of these worms, and crop rotation is im- 

 portant. A good remedy is the one of plowing a furrow 



