288 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and a small black spot near the center of each hind wing 



beneath. 



These moths lay their eggs (Fig. 1) in rows of about 



twenty in a place, in the sheaths of the leaves of various 

 grasses and grains, or on stubble, straw 

 stacks, etc., several rows being sometimes 

 placed on the same plant. The total num- 

 ber of eggs laid by a single moth is perhaps 

 five or six hundred. These eggs probably 

 remain a week or ten days before hatching 

 into tiny caterpillars which feed upon the 

 plants. The time spent in this stage varies 

 under different conditions, but it is probable 

 that a month would be about the average. 

 When full grown, the caterpillar (Fig. 2) 

 is about an inch and a half long, with a 

 velvety black band along its back from 

 head to tail. At each side of this band 

 is a narrow yellowish stripe, then a brown 

 one, and lastly — nearly dow^n the side 

 to the legs — another yellowish stripe. 

 These colors vary greatly, however, the 

 most distinctive marking being the velvety 

 black band on the back with the lighter 

 band at each side. 



When through feeding, the caterpillars go 

 into the ground, pupate and transform into 

 moths, as already described for the earlier 

 brood. The moths soon appear (thev 



Fig. 2. — Caterpillar of ^^ ^ 



army worm. (From appeared the last of August and early in 



.Sif D*!;Urtmeft September in 1914) and lay their eggs, and 



of^ Agriculture, the Caterpillars from these feed for a time 



before winter, resuming their feeding in the 



spring. The moths this year were very noticeable toward 



night, feeding on honey dew on pear leaves where it had 



been left by the Pear Psylla, which was very abundant. 



From this outline, it is evident that the caterpillars feed 

 late in the fall and early in the spring in one generation or 

 brood, and during the summer in another. It appears to 



