no FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



The Cutworms are the young or larvae of rather large 

 millers, or night-flying moths of the family Noctuidae. One 

 of them is represented natural size in the figure below. 

 In the case of several of our common species — for there 

 are many different kinds of Cutworms 

 — these moths lay eggs in grass lands 

 Cutworm Larva j^j-g jjj summer or early in autumn. 

 The eggs soon hatch into small worms that feed upon the 

 grass until cold weather, when they seek such shelter as 

 can be found in the soil or rubbish at or near. the surface 

 of the soil^ and remain quiet until spring. They are likely 

 to be half grown when winter closes in.. 



When the sunny days of April come, the Cutworms 

 again begin to feed. If the grass land has been plowed, 

 they eat. such green things, as they can find, until the corn 

 or other crop' comes up ; then they feed upon it. If they 

 are in grass near gardens, they are likely to wander over 

 the garden more or less, taking such plants as they find. 

 They travel at night, remaining concealed in or near the 

 soil during the day. 



Toward the latter part of the spring the Cutworms be- 

 come full grown in this larval state. They then burrow 

 into the soil, and change to pupae or chrysalids of a 

 brownish color. About two weeks later they again change 

 to adult moths. 



Various remedies for Cutworms are known. In gardens, 

 when a plant has been cut. off, a prompt search of the soil 

 about the base of the:stem willgenerally reveal the worm, 

 which may then be killed. On a larger scale, the use of a 

 poisoned bait made by mixing a small amount of Paris 

 green with bran or middlings, or a mixture of the two, has 

 been successful. This is scattered upon the grass beside 

 the field to be protected, or is placed in rows in the field 



