ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



365 



is only noticed in certain years? Such questions, 

 lilcewise, can receive no definite answer, 



"Till old experience do attain 

 To something like prophetic strain. " 



For though, to meet tlie first, we may assume 

 that the winter decimates tlieir numbers, or that 

 the si»-mg weather is not favorable to their in- 

 crease ; and to meet the last we may conjure up 

 a hundred reasons — yet assuming is not knowing, 

 and we must content ourselves with the facts as 

 they occur. 



In conclusion, it will afibrd a gi-ain of comfort 

 to those who have had wheat fields cleaned ofT 

 by this worm, to know that their wheat is not 

 necessarily ruined ; for, as we personally ascer- 

 tained, wheat that had been thus cut off in the 

 fall of 18G8 made a good stand the following 

 spring ; and in one instance, where part of a field 

 had been invaded and the rest left untouched, it 

 really appeared that the part wliicli had been 

 eaten ofT yielded the heaviest. Mr. Huron Burt, 

 of Callaway county, Mo., also informs lis that 

 this insect always leaves blue-grass untouched. 



Prodenia aotumualis.n. sp —Imago (Fig 231, o, b and c), 

 Front wings narrcfW witli the apex n^^ually well rounded, and 



uUly, 



and 



a- front 



often with a Ih-h-r..]. .n d lini n,ar apr 

 Hind «>m,i7S whiir «ith a iiim inlv,,n. lini 

 and slightly iriih-r, lit, wiih i xrn nnfh-, o 

 ders, especially ;Uhai-, lir.-wn: liin-,- ■In 



Thorax, abclomen ;ind liu~ ^i -an - 



wings, being ].:il.r lirl,.\> : <],•■ h.iu. ' i . ; ' . anal ab- 

 dominal hairs mine Inhous, ^,-\.- wnn <i i inmi \ distin- 

 guished, the size and ^llape of the abdwiuiu u..l . \. u being a 



1.05 inches. Described from 18 specimens, bred Sept. 2i)tli— 

 Oct. loth, from corn-fed larvae 



Vahiett FiiLVOSA (Fig. 221, b) .—Front wings greatly suf- 

 fused wirli fulvous, especially in the lower median space, 

 I'linis t" lie liraceous; apicid space more ( 



defln 





orbiculai- -|..it \i iili an .nhre-eohued eentre. Described from 

 Sspechuin^, bred --ei.t ■-■."itli— Oct 3rd . from corn-fed larvaj. 

 Vauiei V Oi;.s( LIRA (Fig. 2:il, t').— Fro7i/ wi«^sof amuchmore 

 unifonn and darlier color, either gravish-brown withaslight 

 vinous tint, or deep smoky brown inclining to black, or a deep 

 warm brown with but little gray ; apical space either entii-ely 



behind the prongs a 

 mata large, brown 

 the lower edge of tlit 

 dark. Cervical Bh 

 dorsal and subdors 



legs. Length' 1.10— 1.50 inch, 

 specimens . 



Pupa. — Formed in ground, without cocoon; of normal 

 form, bright mahogany-brown, and with a distinct forked 

 point at extremity. 



THE SO-CALLED WEB-WORM OF YODNG TROUT, 



So much has already been written about the 

 Sitmilium by those who are much better versed 

 in the science of Entomology than I am, that I 

 feel like treading on sanctified ground in under- 

 taking to write concerning it. But as I was 

 successful in rearing the perfect insect of the 

 particular species that makes Spring Creek its 

 home, and has lately caused such a commotion 

 among the followers of the " gentle art, " I will 

 endeavor to give my observations and experi- 

 ence in as few words as possible. 



They made their first appearance in the perfect 

 state about the first of April. At that time I 

 had two larvae. One of them perished in a few 

 hours after leaving the water. The other spun 

 what might be called a fine delicate "web," 

 closely welding it to the glass at every poin.. 

 This structure was irregular iu outline, but if a 

 circle were inscribed in it, the radius of the 

 circle would correspond to the length of the 

 grub. 



By pouring some fresh water into the dish, 

 the larva was displaced. It could not regain 

 its former position, nor did it make another 

 endeavor to spin; but died in a day or two. 

 During the months of April and May, while 

 ■easrching for other aquatic larvae, I occasionally 



