42 



light grey and mottled. The worm is a very general feeder, thriving on cabbage and 

 grape-vine leaves, and even on the wild mulberry ; while some which had hatched in a 

 drawer, were found in a half grown state, having fed entirely on some apples which 

 happened to be in it at the time. The eggs of the insect have been found early in 

 Spring on cherry and apple twigs, and also on the leaves of the white mulberry, near St. 

 Louis, Missouri. This fact leads Mr. Riley to think that, in the Western States, the 

 moth is double brooded, as these eggs must have been laid by a female, which had passed 

 the winter either in the chrysalis or moth state, and the transformations of the insect are 

 completed by the spring brood in about thirty-five days. In Missouri the moths 

 appear during the latter part of June, which would allow ample time for a second brood 

 before winter. In Ontario, Mr. Norman records the capture of the moth on the 14th 

 August. 



The worms have the climbing faculty to some extent, lying concealed during the day 

 under the surface of the ground, and ascending vines and other plants during the night 

 for the purpose of feeding. 



The moth expands about 1 J inches, and is marked as follows : The fore wings are 

 light brown, shaded in the middle and towards the hinder margin with dusky brown ; 

 they are crossed by four more or less distinct, wavy bands, each formed of two blackish 

 lines ; the kidney-spot is dusky ; and there are several blackish spots on the outer thick 

 edge of the wing. The hind wings are pearly white in the middle, shaded behind and 

 veined with dusky brown. The thorax is reddish brown, with the collar and shoulder- 

 covers doubly edged with black. The abdomen is grey [Harris). It is a very variable 

 species, as regards the depth of colour. 



Agrotis messoria. — Harris. The Reaping Rustic Moth. 

 Agrotis Cochranii (?) Riley — Larva. — The Dark-sided Cut-worm. — Riley. 



This moth is described by Harris as the American representative of the Corn Rustic 

 (Agrotis segetum) of Europe. It is in the list of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 

 but I cannot say whether it is abundant in Canada or not. It is found in the Province 

 of Quebec, but is not common. 



Mr. Riley has described a moth under the name of Agrotis Cochranii, which Mr. 

 Grote considers to be the same as messoria. In case they should prove to be identical, I 

 give some extracts from Mr. Riley's very valuable article on Cochranii, on account of 

 the peculiar habits of the larvae, a knowledge of which is important to our fruit-growers. 



The Caterpillar is one of the " climbers," and does great injury to the orchards in 

 Michigan, and States further west, being most injurious in those growing upon light, sandy 

 soils. The general colour of the worm is dingy ash-grey, bnt it is characterized more 

 especially by the sides being darker than the rest of the body. When young, it is much 

 darker, and the white, which is below the lateral band, is then cream-coloured and very 

 distinct. It grows to a little more than an inch in length. (Riley.) 



The following graphic account of the depredations of this caterpillar is from the pen 

 of Mr. Cochran, of Calumet, Illinois ; and is commended to the notice of the fruit 

 growers of Ontario. 



"In the beginning of the evening its activity is wonderful ; moving along from limb to 

 limb swiftly, and selecting at first only the blossom buds, to one of which having fastened, it 

 does not let go its hold until the entire head is eaten out, and from this point, so thorough 

 is its work, no latent or adventitious bud will ever again push. From a six-year old fruit 

 tree, I have, on a single night, taken seventy-five of these worms, and on the ensuing 

 evening, found them well nigh as plenty on the same tree. When all the blossom buds 

 „ of a tree are taken, it attacks with equal avidity the leaf buds. It is no unusual thing to 

 find small trees with every bud that had pushed, from first intentions utterly destroyed, 

 and frequently young orchards the first season planted, on sandy grounds, lose from 50 

 to 75 per cent, of their trees; sometimes those remaining will be so badly injured as to 

 linger along a few years, fruiting prematurely each season, and then die, utterly drained 



