84 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Cutworms* 



Under the general term cutworms we commonly designate 

 any of the larvic of several .species of moths, which are more 

 or less similar in general appearance and habits, and which have 

 the habit of feeding on low-growing vegetation, and cutting off 

 the stem just at the surface of the ground. They should be 

 carefully distinguished from white grubs, which are sometimes 



FIG. 52. Earth removed from base of seedling to show cutworm in hiding 



natural size. 



wrongly called cutworms on account of their .similar habits. 

 Some of the species attack certain crops more commonly than 

 others, but most of them are quite omnivorous in their feeding. 

 When they become overabundant they will eat anything green 

 and succulent foliage, flowers, buds, fruit, stalks, or roots, and 

 sometimes migrate to other fields in armies like the army worms. 

 Some species commonly climb young fruit trees which have been 



* Various species of the family Noctuidce. 



