GENERAL CROP PESTS 



6i 



Garden Webworm (Loxostcgc similalis Gn.). — This species 

 affords an excellent example of an insect that feeds normally 

 on weeds and only in times of abundance becomes a pest and 

 general feeder. In such times it will attack most vegetables. 

 In 1885 a serious outbreak occurred over a large area in Kansas, 

 Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and in what was then 

 known as Indian Territory. Corn suffered most and a replanting 



Fig. 33. — Garden webworm. a, Male moth; b, larva, lateral view; c, larva, dorsal view; 

 d, anal segment; e, abdominal segment, lateral view; /, pupa; g, cremaster. (After 

 Riley, except c, Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



was necessary in several instances, and the yield per acre was 

 much reduced, owing largely to the ravages of this webworm. 



The moth (fig. 33, a) is variable, yellow, buff, or reddish- 

 brown. It has an expanse of wing of about three-quarters of 

 an inch. The larva (b, c) varies also, the ground colors run- 

 ning through pale and greenish yellow to dark yellow. It is 

 strongly marked with black, piliferous spots ((/, c). 



The garden webworm occurs generally throughout the United 

 States and is most injurious in the South. Its favored natural 

 food plant is "careless"' weed ( Amaranthus). The caterpillar, 

 soon after hatching, draws together the edges of a leaf by 

 means of its web, or fastens together two contiguous leaves, 

 forming a shelter, from which it crawls forth to feed. 



Remedies. — A spray of Paris green has been used with per- 

 fect satisfaction against this webworm, the fact that it is more 



