84 



the fact that it is not usually found in such large armies, does not attract 

 the same number of parasitic and predaceous enemies that have been 

 recorded for the common army worm. During the past season the 

 only natural enemies of the fall army worm observed were the English 

 sparrow and some other birds, especially nickers, and a Tachinid fly, 

 TT7/,f/,,7 ' IrijnmctuLata "VTied.. which deposits its eggs usually on 



or near the thoracic segments of its victim. A few other natural 

 enemies have been observed in other years, which include ant-, wasps. 

 Ichneumon flies, and Chalcidids. 



It is well known that two outbreaks of the true army worm have 

 neveT yet come under observation in successive years, and it is to the 

 efficiency of natural enemies that such a condition is ascribed. From 

 the experience of the past year there is no reason to expect immunity 

 from attack the coming year, as scarcely any dependence can be placed 

 upon parasitic and predaceous insect.- and other animal- with this spe- 

 cies, and we know moreover that outbreaks may occur in successive 

 year.-, a- happened in Florida in 1896 and 1897, and in two other cases 

 which have been recorded. 



REMEDIAL MEA.-UEES. 



The fall army worm resemble- so nearly the common army worm in 

 seasons when it assumes the habit of traveling in armies that it is at 

 such times amenable to much the -ame line of remedial treatment. 

 The remedies of the greatest value against the latter are described in 

 the Annual Report of this Department for 1879 (pp. 189, 190), and 

 in Circular No. I. second series, of this Division (pp. 3, I). 



Unfortunately, as with the common army worm, infestation is not 

 reported, in fact i- seldom detected, until too late for the application 

 of direct remedies. When attack is at its height the larva? or "worms" 

 are usually approaching maturity, and it i.- difficult to check them at 

 this stage or prevent them from passing from one held or garden to 

 another. Paris green and other arsenical^ are of value where they 

 would not involve further injury to the crop infested or destroy it as 

 food for man or beast. 



Lawn- can be freed from the caterpillar-, at least in great measure, 

 by the use of kerosene emulsion followed with as complete a drench- 

 ing as possible with water from a ho-e. 



If the earlier generations of the caterpillars could be discovered they 

 could be destroyed in the same manner as other cutworm.- by the use 

 of poisoned baits, this remedy being particularly applicable in vege- 

 table garden-. Such baits should be made of succulent grasses or 

 alfalfa, where the latter can be obtained, and saturated by immersion 

 in a solution of Pari.- green or other arsenical. 



By copiously -praying a wide strip of grass land surrounding unin 



