INSECTS iXTURIOtJS TO CORK". ISl 



account of this habit these insects are sometimes known 

 as '^bnd-worms/^ Strong plants will often make a new 

 start and survive the injury, but remain much behind 

 those not attacked, while most of the weaker plants will 

 decay and rot off. 



Tlie Motli. — As one walks through jiasture or grass land, 

 many little white and yellowish moths are seen flying 

 about on all sides, but quickly disappear as they alight on 

 the grass. If a single individual be watched more closely, 

 it will be noticed that in alighting upon a blade of grass 

 it quickly rolls its wings very tightly around its body, and 

 hugs up close to the grass so that it is hardly distinguish- 

 able from it. Projecting from the head in front is what 

 appears to be a long beak or snout, on account of which 

 these moths are often known as '•snout-moths,"' but 

 which really consists of the j)alpi or feelers. The '^ Grass- 

 moths," as they are sometimes called, belong to the genus 

 Cramius and include several common species, being 

 marked with silver stripes and bands, as well as golden 

 lines and markings, so that they often present a very 

 handsome appearance. 



Life-liistory. — These are the parents of the Web-worms 

 which do so much injury to the young corn-roots, the 

 principal depredators ujjon corn belonging to the species 

 Oramlus caliginoselhis. They lay their eggs in grass land 

 in May or early June, dropping them on the surface among 

 the rubbish or vegetation, or attaching them to the grass. 

 They are oval in form and of a yellowish color, each being 

 marked with regularly placed ridges. About two hundred 

 eggs are laid by each female. In from six to ten days the 

 eggs hatch. The young larva3 soon form their loose silken 

 webs or tubes at or a little below the surface of the soil, 



