321 



consists in the use of an arsenical spray. At the time of tlie submit- 

 tal of the Annual Eeport last fall we were unaware of the method of 

 hibernation of the insect, and at that time were uimble to give a good 

 figure of the pupa. Recently, however, Mr. Walter Maxwell, the as- 

 sistant in (charge of the sugar-beet station of this Department at Schuy- 



FiG. 43. — Loxostege sticticalis: a, eggs, natui-al size; 

 &, eggs enlarged ; c, cocoon; d, larval case; e, ore- 

 master of pupa, enlarged (after Riley). 



■a.' / 



Fig. 44:.— Loxostege sticticalis: a, larva, 

 full grown, enlarged; b, dorsum of ab- 

 dominal joint of same; c, same joint from 

 side, still more enlarged (after Eiley). 



ler, iSTebraska, has sent us a large number of over- wintered cases for 

 the puri>ose of ascertaining whether the insect had successfully passed 

 the winter and whether the outlook was favorable for a good croj) of 

 worms the coming season. At our suggestion last fall Mr. Maxwell 

 harrowed the fields sown to beets last season, since it was supposed 

 that this harrowing would bring the larval cases to the surfiice of the 

 ground where they would be exposed to the 

 frost and also to the attacks of insectivorous 

 birds and mammals. He Avrites us May 15 

 that an examination showed that the cocoons 

 which were exposed by repeated harrowiugs 

 had been largely emptied by the birds — 

 meadow larks, quail, and other species. Such 

 as had not been rifled by the birds were 

 chiefly dead, but occasional individuals still 

 possessed a notable vitality. Upon ascertain- 

 ing this fact he had them plowed under seven 

 or eight inches deep and the soil compressed 

 by rolling, considering that ''their chances of 

 seeing daylight were thus rendered extremely 

 meager." 



The specimens which we received were collected November 12, 1892, 

 and placed in a large box of earth which was placed under cover and kept 

 through the winter, exposed to the out-of-door fluctuations of temper- 

 ature, but protected from rain and snow. Examinations at this office 

 May 16 gave the following result: Out of 14L larval cases 121 were 



Fig. 45.— Loxostege sticticalis: a, 

 larval case in outline ; b, cocoon of 

 parasite in larval case, natural 

 size ; c, pupa, enlarged (original) . 



