CUTWORMS, ARMYWORMS, AND RELATED SPECIES 17 



EGGS DEPOSITED AUGUST 5 



Period Width of head 



Instar: ( da V s ) capsule (mm.) 



First 2 to 4 0.30 to 0.35 



Second. 1 to 2 .50 to .60 



Third 1 to 3 .90tol.l5 



Fourth 2 to 3 1.50 to 2.05 



Fifth 3 to 5 2.10to3.05 



Total 21 to 25 



Pupa 13 to 15 



Egg to adult 38 to 42 



Natural enemies. — Only 36 black cutworm larvae were collected 

 over a period of many years. Of these, 8 percent were parasitized 

 by Hymenoptera and 3 percent by Diptera. Meteorus vulgaris (Cress.) 

 was the only parasite reared that could be determined. 



SURFACE-FEEDING CUTWORMS 



The cutworms of the surface-feeding group feed largely on parts 

 of the host plant close to the ground and sometimes cut off the stems 

 and feed on the fallen plant. During the day they conceal themselves 

 in surface trash or crawl beneath boards, dry cow chips, aod similar 

 objects. 



ACRONYCTA PARALLELA (GlTOte) 



Distribution. — Adults of this species were captured at light traps 

 at Cherryvale, Manhattan, Hays, and Garden City in Kansas, and at 

 Lincoln and Scottsbluff in Nebraska. Larvae were taken at Wichita, 

 Kans. 



Economic status. — The species is of little or no consequence. 



Food plants. — Larvae were found in pasture and wastelands where 

 little barley was dominant. They were reared on sprouted wheat. 



Seasonal history. — Adults of this species were captured at lights 

 throughout most of the flight season, March to November, which 

 would indicate that the species has more than one generation annually. 

 The larvae were taken only in March and early April, an indication 

 that the winter is passed as partly grown larvae. Those collected in 

 the field in March were nearly full-grown and formed pupal cells of 

 silk mixed with soil early in April. The larvae remained quiescent 

 within their cells until late in July, when pupation began. The 

 adults emerged late in August and early in September. 



Natural enemies. — Of 59 larvae that were reared, 2 percent were 

 parasitized by undetermined Hymenoptera and 9 percent died of an 

 unidentified disease. 



Euxoa Olivia (Morrison) 



Distribution. — Adults of Euxoa olivia were captured in light traps 

 at Garden City, Kans., and Lincoln and Scottsbluff, Nebr. Larvae 

 were found at Chadron, Nebr. Davis and Dorst (6) list this species 

 from Utah. 



Economic status. — The species is of only minor importance. 



Food plants. — Larvae were found injuring strawberry plants in a 

 home garden at Chadron, Nebr., and four larvae were collected from 



884237—50 3 



