GENERAL CROP PESTS 5 I 



presence by finding young plants with tender stems that have 

 just been set out, cut off near the surface of the ground. The 

 culprit rests in a curved position during the day concealed in 

 the earth around the plants which it has destroyed during the 

 previous night. Some species leave open 

 holes where they have buried themselves 

 in the earth, others seek shelter under 

 any debris, such as old boards, stones 

 or dead leaves, and a few species have pig. 25.-w-markedcutworm 

 a habit of dragging portions of plants (Noctua danaestma) 



which they have cut off to their sub- ' ^^ 



terranean retreats where they can feed at leisure. 



Most species are single-brooded northward, but many produce 

 two or more generations southward. 



The greatest injury, as previously stated, is done in early 

 spring for the following reasons: The last-appearing genera- 

 tion of moths issue from the ground in midsummer or autumn, 

 and deposit eggs from which larvae hatch and feed until cold 

 weather drives them to their winter quarters. A considerable 

 proportion of such larvae are from half to three-quarters grown, 

 and in this condition many hibernate, although a few species 

 pass the winter in the pupal condition and less exceptionally 

 as moths. The eggs are deposited, often in large masses, on 

 such growth, grasses and weeds as spring up after a crop has 

 been harvested, and when this is plowed under to make room 

 for the new crop that is planted in spring, comparatively few 

 plants come up, and as a result, the immature cutworms are 

 forced to feed upon whatever is available. This explains their 

 great destructiveness, as it is a matter of yearly occurrence in 

 many neighborhoods for cutworms to destroy large portions 

 of a planting and even entire crops, necessitating replanting 

 sometimes a third or fourth time before a good stand can be 

 obtained. 



The life histories of cutworms vary according to the species 



