2 BULLETIN 1336, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



SYNONYMY 



The following synonymy is given in Barnes and McDunnough'y 

 list (1): 



Plathypena Grt. 



scabra Fabr. 

 erectalis Gn. 

 palpalis Hav. 

 obesalis Steph. 

 ab. subrufalis Grt. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 



A study of all the available definite locality records shows that the 

 species occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada 

 east of the ninety-eighth meridian, except possibly along a portion 

 of the Gulf coast and southern Florida, from which sections no data 

 have been secured by the writer. The infested territory is repre- 

 sented by the shaded area in the map (fig. 1). 



Fig. 1. — Map showing distribution of the green clover worm in the 

 United States 



FOOD PLANTS 



The larvse ordinarily feed on leguminous crops, and among forage 

 crops are most frequently found on alfalfa, reel clover, soybean, and 

 cowpea. In Tennessee alfalfa seemed to be preferred above all other 

 food plants. This was further demonstrated by caged material. 

 Larvse left in a cage containing red clover, cowpeas, blackberry, 

 strawberry, and alfalfa attacked and stripped first the alfalfa plants. 



In addition to these crops, Chittenden (2) recorded the larvse from 

 vetch and Lima bean, also at different times from both strawberry 

 and blackberry, and in great numbers on tickweed, all in the vicinity 

 of Washington, D. C; E. H. Gibson found one feeding on sweet- 

 clover and swept two more from the same plant; P. Luginbill reported 



