found upon curtains, in clothes hanging upon lines and on the woodwork of 

 houses, by Mrs. Walton, of Armstrong, B. C, and Jlrs. Place, of Dog Creek, 

 B. O. tin hatching, tlie youug caterpillars, as in the case with some other 

 cut-worms, are loopers, and resemble the larv:e of the geometrid moths, lack- 

 ing some of the pro-legs which appear in the later stages. — Dr. Flvtclicr's 



h'cpoit, num. 



(Fnjiii Uciiort o/ IsOtS). 



•■ Cut-worms are the cateri)illars of dull-coloured, active moths, belonging 

 to the luirtuidir or owlet moths, of which there are upwards of 400 different 

 kinds in North America. The caterpillars of these different kinds vary 

 somewhat in their habits, but on the whole they are very similar, being 

 .smooth, almost naked, gray-looking caterpillars of some dull sliade of colour 

 similar to the ground in which they hide during the day. The head is smooth 

 and shining, as well as a small horny jilate and the segment next to the 

 head. Their habits are almost always nocturnal ; lying hid liy day just 

 beneath the surface of the soil, they come out by night to feed. 



■■ When Ihey occur in large numbers they change their habits somewhat_ 

 luid feed by day as wi'll, owing to the reduced food supi)i.v consecjuent upon 

 their ravages. The eggs from which cut-worms halch are laid Iiy some 

 species in the autumn, and by others in the spring or suuuuer, and as a con- 

 sequence cut-worms of all sizes can be found in the spring: for these insects, 

 according to the species, may pass the winter in the state of either a perfect 

 moth, a chrysalis, a partially grown caterpillar, or an egg." 



The caterpillars under consideration are those of the moth known as 

 " Pcridroinu saiiciit," of which Dr. Fletcher says iu his report of 1000, "named 

 somewhat inappropriately the variegated cut-worm." The p.-irent moth is 

 known in England under the name of the " Pearly Underwing." 



When the caterpillars are first hatched the.v are minute, dark-coloured 

 and hairy, and are at that time, and for about a week after, what are com- 

 monly known as loopers or geometers. As they attain a larger size_ however, 

 they are provided with six true legs and ten fleshy pro-legs, when they 

 relinquish tlie habit of looping and assume the normal cut-worm habits. 



When cut-worms are suthcientl.v abundant to ca\ise wholesale destruction, 

 they, as a rule, assume the habits of the arm.v-worm. moving in large 

 numbers from place to place as food becomes scarce, and it is frequentl.v 

 possible to head tlieni off from further progress by scattering poisoned bait 

 in front of the army. Ditches with perpendicular sides are also found good 

 barriers, the caterpillars being unable to c'linib up the steep si<les. 



I'riiirilirs. 



The use of the jioisoned bran remedy is strongly reconnueuded. it having 

 proved to be most efficacious. Large numbers ma.v be destroyed by placing 

 between the rows of an infested crop, or at a short distance aiiart on infested 

 land, bundles of succulent weed or other vegetation, which have been 

 previously poisoned by dipping them into a strong mixture of Paris green 

 (two ounres to a pailful of water). The cut-worms eat the poisoned plants, 

 then liury themselves and die. In hot, dry weather these bundles should be 

 placed out after sundown, and a shingle nia.v be laid on each to prevent 

 fading. 



