106 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE. 



Fig. 100. 



cut- worms, and have the habit of ascending fruit-trees at 

 night and committing great havoc among tlie expanding buds 

 and young foliage, and it is to these that we here particularly 

 refer. Orchards having a light, sandy soil are much more 

 liable to attack than those with a stiff and heavy soil. Where 

 the buds and foliage of trees or vines are being destroyed with- 

 out apparent cause, climbing cut-worms should be searched 

 for, when the lurking foes will usually be found buried in 

 the soil not far from the base of the trees or vines injured. 



The several species of climbing cut-worms, while differing 

 in size, color, and markings, are much alike, being all smooth, 



naked larvae of some shade of gray, green, 

 brown, or black, with grayish or dusky 

 markings. 



The Variegated Cut-worm, Agrotis sau- 

 cia (Hubner). One of the eggs of this 

 species is represented in Fig. 100, much 

 enlarged ; also a patch of the same, num- 

 bering several hundreds, on a tw^'g. The 

 egg is round and flattened, of a pinkish 

 color, and very prettily ribbed and orna- 

 mented. These are often laid on twigs of 

 the apple, cherry, and peach. 



The young larvae, when hatched, are 

 very small, and of a dull-yellowish color, 

 with darker spots. At first, it is said, they do not hide them- 

 selves under the ground, but acquire this habit after their 

 first moult, which takes place about a week after they are 

 hatched. They become full grown before the middle of June, 

 when they present the appearance shown in*.Fig. 101, which 

 shows the larva as at rest ; when extended and in motion, it 

 is nearly two inches long. The figure at the side represents 

 the head magnified, showing its markings more distinctly. 

 The full-grown larva is of a dull flesh-color, mottled with 

 brown and black, Avith elongated velvety black markings on 

 each side. 



a 



