32 



CIRCULAR 2 7 0, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Figure 36. — The spotted cutworm: A, Moth; B, larva extended; C, larva curled up. 



soil, under a leaf, or in a bunch of grass or alfalfa during the day, 

 and climb into the trees at night to feed on the tender leaves and 

 flower parts of the expanding buds. Frequently their presence is 

 made known by many buds and portions of buds on the ground 

 under the trees, dropped there by the worms as they feed. At 

 times dozens and even hundreds of these worms may be found in the 



daytime under each tree, 

 and such numbers cause 

 severe damage. 



In the Pacific Northwest 

 several species of cutworms 

 (Graphiphora c-nigrum (L.)) 

 (fig. 36), Abagrotis barnesii 

 Benj., and Euxoa spp. are 

 responsible for most of the 

 damage of this type done to 

 fruit trees. Their habits are 

 similar. Most of them spend 

 the winter as small, partly 

 grown worms, coming out of 

 hibernation in the spring 

 voraciously hungry. For a 

 time the tender buds of fruit 

 trees offer a very attractive 

 food supply, and most of the 

 damage is caused over a rela- 



Figurb 37.-Method of constructing cotton tjvely short period. Later 

 tree band. the worms teed on alialia 



