70 



This is one of the common caterpillars in Illinois beet fields, accord- 

 ing to Messrs. Forbes and Hart (Bui. 60, Univ. 111. Agrie. Exp. Sta., 

 1900, pp. 496-497), being found most abundantly in the caterpillar 

 state in July and August. 



FOOD AND OTHER HABITS. 



A list of larval food plants has been compiled by Messrs. Forbes 

 and Hart which includes besides cotton, beets, corn, wheat, cabbage, 

 potato, asparagus, salsify, peach, and raspberry. To this list may 

 now be added the foliage of violets, asparagus, cucumber, tomato, 

 morning glory, turnips, pea, rape, ruta-baga, pigweed, cottonwood, 

 and grasses. It seems probable that many more plants will be added 

 in course of time. Injury has also been noted to the bolls of cotton 

 and fruit of tomato. 



Our knowledge of the life history of this cutworm is so limited that 

 little can be said about it. What we know, however, applies about 

 equally well to the other two species under consideration. 



The moth does not appear to have been captured or reared earlier 

 than July 28 in the District of Columbia. In cold rooms in confine- 

 ment moths have bred out at intervals during the winter, and one was 

 present in our rearing jars, and active when stimulated, February 2. 

 It is evident that moths develop in the field as early as the last week 

 of July and irregularly from that time, according to the state of the 

 temperature. 



The species is credited with being double-brooded, and of this there 

 can be no possible doubt. It is more probable, however, that three 

 generations are produced in the District of Columbia and farther South. 



When fully matured the larvae enter the earth to a very moderate 

 depth, according to the writers observation, and form, at least for the 

 last generation or hibernating pupa, a tolerably compact, serviceable 

 cocoon, moderately lined with silk and outwardly covered with sand 

 or earth. The winter, according to Riley, is passed generally in the 

 larval stage, but sometimes also as pupa or imago. Recent observa- 

 tions do not uphold this theory, since the climatic conditions are much 

 the same in Missouri as in the District of Columbia and vicinity. In 

 the latter locality larvae have never been found hibernating, and it is 

 probable that the pupae would pass the winter under suitable con- 

 ditions, but the imago often hatches out, as previously stated, at 

 times during the winter, and it does not seem probable that all of the 

 individuals which issue in cold weather survive cold spells. 



NATURAE ENEMIES. 



Mention has alread} r been made of a Tachina fly parasite of the larva. 



Limneria *p. — A larva was brought to this office June 13. 1S99, by 



Mr. T. A. Keleher, who found it feeding upon tomato. It was at 



