INJURIES AND HABITS. 9 
fern crop had been damaged to the extent of $1,000. It was stated 
that the larva would cut the plants entirely bare, and each new leaf 
would be attacked by two or three larve as soon as it appeared. 
The same grower stated that these cutworms troubled his ferns the 
previous year and that larve, pup, and imagos were seen through- 
out that winter and preyed on the ferns the whole year. 
July 3, 1908, Mr. J. E. Watson called at the office, requesting 
methods for the control of this caterpillar, which was doing great 
injury to some fern plants (Vephrolepis whitmani) in the green- 
house. He estimated that damage to the extent of $4,000 had been 
caused by the caterpillars during the previous year. During Sep- 
tember Mr. Watson and Mr. Bartos made another complaint of this 
species. Mr. Duder, another florist, also complained of the species. 
A visit was made on September 28, 1908, and a number of larve, 
mostly full grown, some about to pupate, were secured. 
The larva spins a loose cocoon by drawing together dead leaves and 
particles of earth next to the ground. It sometimes draws together 
green leaves to spin the cocoon. Though not strictly a nocturnal 
feeder it shuns bright ight and is most often found feeding exposed 
in the early morning. 
The moth is seldom seen by day and when aroused it usually flies 
down under the benches to seclude itself. Thus many moths are 
caught in spider webs that abound in dark corners in the greenhouses. 
Since the ravages by this species were repeated in 1908 with even 
greater loss than in 1907, two growers stated that unless some imme- 
diate steps could be taken to check the pest the raising of ferns in 
local greenhouses would be abandoned. 
The caterpillars seem to do the greatest damage early in the year, 
especially during May, but owing to the uniformly warm temperature 
of the greenhouses, winter as well as summer, there is no time when 
they are scarce enough to allow the ferns to put out a full head of 
fronds. They attack the tender leaves, especially the growing tips 
of young fronds, thus checking any attempt on the part of a plant to 
replenish the dying fronds with a new growth, and so far stunting it 
as to render it of no commercial value. 
From larvee obtained in September the moths began to issue October 
26, continuing to emerge until November 19. The pupal stage was 
ascertained to be in three cases 23, 25, and 27 days, respectively, in 
cool October weather. 
October 13, 1909, Mr. H. Walter McWilliams, Griffin, Ga., fur- 
nished specimens of this caterpillar, found on ferns, and stated that 
it cuts the fronds and injured the sale of the plants. 
January 18, 1910, Mr. John J. Davis* reported this species to be a 
serious pest on greenhouse ferns in Illinois. It was first reported 
1 Journ. Econ. Ent., vol. 3, p. 183, 1910. 
