29 



Upon batching, these eggs give rise to small, dark, smooth- 

 skinned caterpillars (true cut worms), which feed greedily upon 

 grasses and grains. The full-grown caterpillar (Fig. 2) is about 

 one and one-half inches in length, and has a dark dorsal stripe 

 extending the whole length of the body. Following this stripe on 

 each side of the body there are three narrow, fairly well-defined 

 stripes, the first being grayish yellow, the 

 second dark brown and the third, extend- 

 ing along the body just above the legs, of 

 a rust-yellow color. The under surface is 

 light brown. All the body colors are sub- 

 ject to much variation. In this stage the 

 insect has the habit, common to other cut 

 worms, of curling itself up when disturbed. 



Fig. 1. — Akmt Worm. 

 Moth, eggs and pupa. (From Department 

 of Agiiculture Report, 1879.) 



When full grown the caterpillars bury 

 themselves in the soil to a depth of two or 

 three inches and there transform into dark 

 brown pupae (Fig. 1) which, in the course 

 of two or three weeks, give rise to winged 

 moths. These moths (Fig. 1) are of a 

 reddish brown color, expand about one and 

 one-half inches and have near the centre 

 of the fore wings a small white spot. The middle of each hind 

 wing bears on the under surface a small black spot. 



The natural breeding place of the army worm is said to be on 

 the borders of swamps, where the grasses common to such places 

 furnish suitable food for the insect, and from such localities in 

 favorable years large numbers emerge to bring devastation upon 

 surrounding fields. 



Fig. 2. — Army Worm. 

 Caterpillar. (From Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture Re- 

 poit, 1879.) 



