CUT-WORMS. 67 



sects, and tliought it desirable tliat the Society should be repre- 

 sented on the State Board of Agriculture, where it might assist in 

 procuring the appointment of a State Entomologist. 



CM. Hovey agreed with the Chaii-man that the Society ought to 

 be represented on the Board of Agriculture, but said that it should 

 be remembered to the credit of our state that it was the first to 

 move on this subject, by the appointment of Dr. Harris to make a 

 report on the injurious insects of Massachusetts, which has served 

 as the foundation of the reports of other states. Mr. Hovey spoke 

 of the difference between European and American insects, and 

 said that the phylloxera does not seem to be very injurious to our 

 American vines. 



N. B. White said that he had destroyed large numbers of the cut- 

 worm moth, by placing a light in a tub of water mixed with oil, 

 about the last of May or first of June. He counted what were 

 caught in one night, up to five hundred, which was not a quarter 

 part of the whole. 



Mr. Mann, in reply to an inquiry as to the scientific name of the 

 cut-worm, said that one of the most conmaon kinds is Hadena de- 

 vastator. Another common species is H. dandestina. In Riley's 

 first (Missouri) Report on Insects, twelve important distinct kinds, 

 that hatch into moths, are described, and several are figured. The 

 remedy adopted by Mr. White is one of the best. The speaker had 

 not been aware of any cut- worm whose caterpillar is a moth, 

 attacking grass. The army-worm cuts off grass above the surface. 



CM. Hovey remarked that the cut- worm attacks young seed- 

 lings, seriously injuring whole fields when just springing up. 



Mr. Mann said that Mr. White was correct as to the best time 

 for destro}dng the common cut- worm moth, but that there were 

 twelve hundred moths of this family, and a hundred of the genus 

 mentioned, and that other species than the one mentioned appear at 

 different seasons. In July and August there are few perfect in- 

 sects. Observations on the time when insects appear are important, 

 and it is desirable that when any insect not before observed makes 

 its appearance, specimens should be sent in quantity to entomolo- 

 gists. Specimens of any insect not known or recognized are also 

 desirable. 



The number of first-class original observers in this branch of 

 natural history in this country, is very small, and all the results of 

 their observation are contained in a small compass. Dr. Harris is 



