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RECENT OBSERVATIONS. 



In recent observations this species has come under notice as follows: 



July 20, 1899, a larva was taken feeding on the leaves of pokeweed, 

 Phytolacca deccmdra, growing in the Department Insectary. This 

 larva ceased feeding and entered the earth July 23, the moth issuing 

 August 6. 



August 10, 1900, Mr. Nathan Banks brought larvae of this species 

 from Falls Church, Va., less than one-fourth grown, feeding upon 

 tomato. They fed most voraciously in confinement, and in three days 

 had completed growth, entering the earth on the 13th and 14th of 

 August, the adults issuing August 29. 



August 16 Mr. Pratt brought a larva found at St. Elmo, Va., bor- 

 ing into tomato. As was to be expected, this individual was very much 

 paler than normal, and the triangular dorsal spots were also pale 

 and inconspicuous. This larva at once bored into a tomato when pro- 

 vided with one. 



Larvae were subsequently found and reared to moths on tomatoes 

 growing in the District of Columbia. One of the larvae kept under 

 observation entered the earth August 31, and the imago issued Septem- 

 ber 15. Moths were obtained at lights in the city as late as the 31st 

 of October. 



Nothing can be found by the writer at the present time, in all the 

 literature which has been consulted, concerning the biology of this 

 species, and the same is true of our Divisional notes. 



The larvae, like those of the preceding species, have f requentty been 

 observed crawling about the grounds of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture and elsewhere in the vicinity of the District of Columbia, and we 

 have one record of the larva feeding on turnip, one of its feeding upon 

 " bushberry," and another of attack on castor-oil plant. 



REMEDIES. 



For a consideration of the remedial treatment to be observed in the 

 case of attack by this species the reader is referred to the article on 

 the variegated cutworm. 



THE FALL ARMY WORM. 



(Laphygma frugiperda S. & A.) 



The first occurrence of the fall army worm or "grass worm" on 

 violets that appears to be recorded in our notebooks is dated August 

 9, 1897, when we received from Miss Louise Morris, Athens, Ga., the 

 report that the species was injuring violets at that place, and that there 

 were thousands of the caterpillars in the grass near by. The following 

 month we received larvae from Garrett Park, Md., where they were 

 found on o-reenhouse violets. 



