86 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



tobacco and similar crops grown in hills or rows, small grains 

 and forage crops being injured but rarely. 



Though over a score of species are common, it is not practica- 

 ble to distinguish them in this discussion, and though their life 

 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. 52-59, and with lighter hind-wings, which are folded over 

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

 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 



FIG. 56. The bronzed cutworm (Nephelodes minians Guen.) : back and side 

 views of larva enlarged, and moth natural size. (After Forbes.) 



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 available 

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

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

 spring. The next spring they are exceedingly hungry after their 

 long fast, and attack any vegetaton at hand with surprising vorac- 

 ity. If the land is in grass or weeds they have plenty of food, 

 and if it is then plowed and planted in some crop, it will 

 certainly be injured. 



The cutworms usually become full grown during late spring 

 or early summer, and are then about 1^ to 2 inches long; of 

 a dull brown, gray or blackish color, often tinged with green- 



