INSECT ENEMIES OF EASTERN FORESTS 393 
head is shining black, the body velvety black, usually with a broad, 
diffuse, faint, reddish substigmatal stripe. The venter is sometimes 
reddish brown. There are pale tubercles from which arise short hairs, 
those on the second and third thoracic, and first, eighth, and ninth 
abdominal segments are somewhat bristly and either reddish brown 
or black; elsewhere the hairs are soft and pale yellowish. The larva 
is about. 1144 inches long. This species is distributed through the 
eastern part of the United States and Canada, west to the Rocky 
Mountains. Its food plants include speckled alder, apple, azalea, 
birch, cherry, poplar, sweetfern, strawberry, and willow. The moths 
emerge in May and June, and July to September, the larvae are found 
from June to October, and the winter is passed in the pupal stage in a 
silken cocoon spun tightly among the leaves on the ground. 
The full-grown larva of the smeared dagger moth (Acronicta 
oblinita (A. & S.)) is about 114 inches long. The head is black, 
sometimes tinged with red, the body velvety black dotted with yellow, 
usually with a somewhat broken subdorsal yellow stripe and a broad 
yellow stigmatal band notched above so that the white spiracles are 
surrounded by black. The tubercles vary from black to reddish, and 
each bears short, bristly, reddish hairs. Some specimens have trans- 
verse reddish bands reaching across the back to the spiracles. This 
species is distributed from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to the 
Rocky Mountains. Reports indicate that it is sometimes very com- 
mon locally. Its food plants include speckled alder, apple, boxelder, 
wild cherry, poplar, and willow. The moths emerge from May to July, 
the larvae may be found from June to September, and the winter is 
passed in the pupal stage in a thin cocoon spun among the leaves on 
the ground. 
The species of most economic importance in the family Phalaenidae 
are those commonly known as cutworms. They include a large num- 
ber of species representing many genera. Several species confine their 
feeding to tender roots or stems and foliage close to the surface of the 
ground, and some of these occasionally cause considerable injury in 
forest nurseries. In addition to being pests in nurseries, in vegetable 
and flower gardens, and of field crops on the farm, many species climb 
shrubs and trees, and cause serious injury by feeding on the buds, 
foliage, flowers, green fruits, and succulent growths. 
The cutworms, in general, are stout. hairless, and dull grayish or 
brownish in color. They normally conceal themselves duri ing the day 
on the ground, or in some cases, beneath bark and in holes in ‘the trees. 
They will also gather beneath burlap bands attached to trees. Be- 
cause of the habit of concealing themselves during the day, serious 
damage often is done before the insects are discovered. Many species 
have long lists of food plants. The life histories of the various species 
differ considerably, and there may be one or more generations a year 
depending on the species and the climate. Some species hibernate in 
the egg stage, some in the larval stage, some in the pupal stage, and a 
few in the adult stage. 
For control measures, clean cultivation, keeping the ground free 
of weeds, is recommended for the nursery and garden. “Lf artificial 
control is necessary poisoned baits (p. 32) should be used for the 
ground-feeding species, and poison sprays or dusts (p. 52) should 
be used for those feeding on the trees and shrubs. 
