Western Army Cutworm 



developed into delicately colored wings. The cutworm has now reached 

 the fourth or perfect stage, the moth. 



These moths (Fig. 3, Plate I, Page 1 1) are easily recognized by the 

 light stripe on the forward edge of the fore wing. A few individuals 

 lack this stripe, the fore wing being colored as shown in Figure 4, Plate 

 I, Page 11. 



Fig. 4. Scales from Wing of Moth of Western Army Cutworm, 

 highly magnified 



LIFE HISTORY 



Our knowledge of the life history of the western army cutworm is 

 incomplete. However, recent investigations conducted by Prof. R. A. 

 Cooley, Entomologist of the Montana Experiment station,* have de- 

 termined some of the more important points. 



Prof. Cooley and his associates draw the conclusion that the west- 

 ern army cutworm is single brooded in Montana. This is probably 

 true of Northern Colorado as well. 



The eggs are deposited, so far as is known, on bare ground, on clods 

 of earth, stubble and dead roots on the surface of the soil. Each female 

 moth is capable of laying several hundred whitish, ribbed, and more 

 or less globular eggs similar to those which are shown much enlarged 

 on Plate I, Page 11, Figures 11 and 12. The greater part of the egg 

 laying is done during September and October. 



The eggs hatch in about ten days under ordinary conditions, but a 

 longer time is required if the weather is cool or the season advanced 



* "Observations of the Life History of the Army Cutworm." Journal of Agricultural Research. Vol. 



42 



