INSECTS AFFECTING GRAINS, GRASSES, ETC. 



87 



histories are somewhat different, they may be considered as a 

 class. 



The adults are moths with dark fore wings, variously marked 

 with darker or lighter spots and narrow bands as shown in 

 Figs. 61-68, and with lighter hind-wings, which are folded over 

 the back when at rest. Like the cutworms, they feed at night, 



I 



FIG. 66. Cutworm moths: b, the well-marked cutworm-moth (Noctua clan- 

 destina Harris); the dingy cutworm (Feltia subgothica Ha worth); male 

 (m) and female (/) moths. (After Slingerland.) 



sipping the nectar from flowers, and are known as owlet 

 moths. The females deposit their eggs in grass land or where 

 a crop has been allowed to grow up in grass and weeds in late 

 summer, laying them in patches on the stems or leaves of grasses 

 or weeds, or on stones or twigs in such places. 



The little caterpillars which hatch from these eggs in August 

 and September feed on the roots of whatever vegetation is avail- 

 able until frost, going deeper as it approaches, and finally hollow 

 out small cells, in which they curl up and hibernate until the next 



