164 Notes on I/isect.^. 



juices are squeezed out. If one be kept without food lor swme 

 time, and a Cutvrorm be dropped iuto the box, it is amusing to 

 witness the furv with which it is seized as soon as perceived ; the 

 moment the worm is laid off, it throws itself about with suck 

 violent contortions that its antagonist is thro^vn from side to side^ 

 but this avails it not, for it cannot loosen the bold of those merci- 

 less jaws; if however the Carabidous larva should happen to 

 seize its prey by one of its anal segments, the worm turns round 

 and inflicts sTicb a bite as instantly compels it to retreat, but th.e hard 

 Blates with which the anterior part of its body is clothed, and which 

 are doubtless intended as a defence against this very danger, pro- 

 tect it from being much injured, and it soon returns to the charge,. 

 and takes good care to fasten itself the second time close behind 

 the head of tbe Cutwoim, which, effectually puts an end to the 

 latter's powers of resistance. I left two together in a box over niglit, 

 and when I nest looked at them one bad appeased its bunger on 

 the body of its companion, leaving nothing but its dry skin. The 

 Cutworms, if confined together without much food, have the same 

 cannibal propensity, soon destroying each other; nor is it always 

 the strongest which devours the weakest, for I found two small 

 specimens had destroyed a large one with which I put them. 

 When one seizes another, it never lets go its hold till it has sucked 

 out aU the nutriment its victim contains. 



The following is a description which I have drawn up of the 

 Cutworm of the Indian corn and oats. — No. 1. Smooth and 

 semitransparent ; head, red ; corneous shield on the first segment 

 next the head, dark brown ; ail the rest of the segments greyish 

 white, (almost pure white immediately after changing its skin, and 

 dark o-rey when full of food) with numerous small polished spots of a 

 darker shade than the ground colour, and arranged by pairs dov, a 

 the back and sides ; it has also a few very fine scattered hairs, 

 mostly proceeding from the small spots. 



Dr. Asa Fitch, in his admirable reports on the noxious insects, 

 of the State of !N^ew York, page 312, describes five species of Cut- 

 worm, and the present appears to ^agree with the description of 

 that termed by him the "Red-headed Cutworm ;" I found one of 

 the same species at the roots of grass in one of Mr. Logan's fields, 

 and it may be commonly found under stones, in the early spring, 

 as soon as the snow clears off the ground, but it is then only of 

 small size. 



