PACKABD.J NORTHERN ARMY-WORM. 699 



snccessioi], and thus tbe insects driven off or drowned. The natural 

 enemies of tbe cbincb-bug- are larger species of bugs, tbe lady- bird 

 {Hippodamia and Coccinella), tbe larva of tbe lace- wing fly (Chriisopa), 

 and quails, etc. 



The Northern Army- Worm, HeUopJiila nnipuncfa of Grote; NocUia 

 imipiincta of Hawortb; Leucania nnipuncta Guenee. 



Tbe summer of 18G1 will be long remembered by agriculturists on 

 account of tbe injury tbeir crops received from tbe sudden and unpre- 

 cedented appearance of a caterpillar wbicb destroyed tbe leaves and 

 beads of every sort of grain; and of a species oi ApMs^ or plant-louse, 

 that gathered in immense numbers on tbe ears of tbe grain tbat bad 

 been left untouched by the army-worm, sucking out tbe sap, of tbe ear, 

 and thus lessening very materially its weight ; or if in many cases not 

 doing as much damage as this, causing much apprehension and anxiety 

 to farmers generally. 



Tbe most injurious of tbese two insects is the larva of tbe Leiicania 

 imipinicta, one of a family of night-flying moths tbat embraces an im- 

 mense number of species. The genus Leucania has a spindle-shaped 

 body, a robust thorax, with a distinct collar just behind the head, which 

 above is triangular, carrying near tbe base the thread-like antennte, or 

 feelers, which are about two-thirds tbe length of tbe wings. Two stout 

 palpi, with a slender tip, project from tbe under side of tbe bead, from 

 each side of the hollow sucking-tube used to suck the sweets of flowers, 

 but which at rest is rolled up between tbe palpi and rendered almost 

 invisible by the thick-set, long hair-like scales tbat cover the bead. A 

 little behind tbe front margin of the thorax are placed the wings; tbe 

 forward pair narrow and oblong, arched slightly at tbe apex, and just 

 below, tbe outer oblique edge bulges out sligbtlj*. The outtsr edge or 

 that farthest out from tbe Insertion of the wing is in this genus two or 

 three times as wide as the base. In the middle of the fore wiug is a 

 vein tbat runs out very prominent to just where it divides into three 

 lesser branches; on this point in the species described below is a con- 

 spicuous white dot which gives it its name, unipuncta. 



Tbe hind wings are short, broad, and thin, just reaching out to the 

 outer edge of the fore wing. There is a slight notch near the middle of 

 the outer edge, and the inner edge, or that most parallel to the abdomen, 

 is fringed with quite long hairy scales, that run into the pale fringe of tbe 

 outer edge, which is always paler and broader than that of the fore 

 wings. Both wings are much paler beneath, and do not show the mark- 

 ings of the upper side. When the moth is at rest, tbe bind wings are 

 laid upon tbe abdomen and partially folded, so that the fore wings over- 

 lap one another above them like a roof. Thus folded, the ends of the 

 wings are not much wider than the thorax. 



The abdomen tapers rather rapidly, ending in a pencil of hairs. The 

 second and third joints of the legs are much thickened, the last joints 

 armed with minute spines, four of which are largest on the third joint. 



Characters like these show moths of this genus to be strong and swift 

 on the wing. In meadows and grass-lands, when disturbed they dart 

 suddenly up from under our very feet and plunge into covert very 

 quickly again. In the evening they fly in great numbers into open 

 windows, attracted by tbe light within. " 



The eggs are laid near tbe roots of our wild, especially the perennial, 

 grasses, such as timothy and red-top. Mr. Kiley has succeeded in 

 observing the female laying her eggs early in April at Saint Louis, Mo. 



