278 THE SUGAR BEET. 



phagons petamera^). The name of this insect is Cryp- 

 tophagous iettce ; having been noticed but a few years 

 ago. 



We will now speak of insects that belong to another 

 great class of entomology called Lepidotera. The 

 most important, and consequently the most to be 

 dreaded, is the i^octua (belonging to the ninth family 

 (I^octuidse) of Heterocera, which is the second division 

 of the Lepidotera insects.)^ Those attacking the sugar 

 beet are : 1st, [N^octua segetum ; 2d, JS^octua oleracia ; 

 3d, Noctua brassicse ; 4th, Noctua promba. 



Noctua segetum. — Causes yearly great harm in the 

 northern portions of Fi-ance. As shown in tig. 72, it 



Fig. 72. 



Noctua segetum. 



has two pair of wings, the outer being reddish-brown, 

 with a black border. 



Habits. — The larva of these undergoes a transforma- 

 tion under ground into cocoons, which are composed 

 partly of silk and partly of earth. The JS'octua has 



' Blanchard's classification would be third species of fourteenth family of 

 Crytophagii. 

 " The above is Westwood's classification. 



