REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I913 1 5 



latter is continued along the posterior margin to the basal third and 

 there expands into a conspicuous, ovoid area. 



The larva, described in considerable detail by Professor Webster, 

 may not be that of this species, particularly as it is somewhat larger 

 (26 mm) than those from which our material was reared, the latter 

 producing only H. fractilinea. 



Larva. Length 1.8 cm. Head and thoracic shield mostly pale 

 yellowish. Body mostly a light fuscous yellowish with dull brown, 

 rather broad submedian lines and a narrower, dark brown lateral 

 line slightly broken at the incisures ; suranal plate mostly fuscous 

 yellowish, irregularly margined posteriorly with brownish ; venter 

 yellowish transparent; mouth parts and eyes light brown. 



Life history. Comparatively little is known. The larva may be 

 observed in June feeding on corn, becoming full grown probably the 

 latter part of that month, the moths appearing in our breeding cages 

 July 19th to 2 1 St. Professor Webster obtained them somewhat 

 later, namely, from the last days of July to August loth. The 

 injury last season was on land which had been plow^ed the preceding 

 fall, and there is at least a fair probability that the caterpillars 

 winter in the sod much as do those of a number of other Noctuids 

 as well as larvae of Crambids. When the presumably natural food, 

 grass, is destroyed these caterpillars are compelled to eat whatever 

 may be available and, under the conditions outlined above, may 

 seriously injure corn. 



Distribution. This species has a wide range, having been 

 recorded by the late Doctor Smith from both Canada and New 

 York in August, Illinois, Vermont, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado 

 and New Mexico. Doctor Holland states that this species is not 

 scarce in the Appalachian subregion. 



Preventive measures. Injuries by this insect as well as by allied 

 cutworms and the frequently associated grass webworms, is best 

 prevented by midsummer or early fall plowing (the earlier the 

 better the protection) of grass lands which are to be planted to 

 corn the following season. Doctor Forbes recommends, in addition 

 to the above, pasturing pigs on grass or clover lands to be plowed 

 for corn, distributing by the aid of a seed drill, a line of dry bran 

 or middlings poisoned with Paris green at the rate of i pound to 

 30 pounds of bran, or scattering poisoned food in the spring along 

 the borders of the cornfields next to the grass. It should be 

 unnecessary to add that the use of poisoned baits should be re- 

 stricted to places where there is no danger of destroying domestic 

 animals. Attacks by this class of pests can also be avoided by 

 arranging the rotation, when possible, so that corn will not follow 



