292 REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the warm fall and winter of 1882-'83 a moth of this species ovi- 

 posited October 16, the eggs hatched October 27, and the larvae had 

 reached full growth and begun transforming December 15, the first 

 moth issuing December 20. 



The eggs of this species, which we have obtained in our vivaria, are 

 laid in autumn, and were scattered irregularly and singly on grass, a 

 habit which is exceptional and probably abnormal, as the result of con- 

 finement. In shape and structure they resemble those of saucia, and the 

 larvae in the earlier stages are loopers, having the first three pairs of 

 prolegs atrophied. They are also quite hirsute, the hairs in the first 

 stage exceeding in length the diameter of the body, but relatively di- 

 minishing with each molt. Prof. G. H. French has given an account 

 (Can. Ent. XIV, pp. 207-9, Nov., 1882) of the adolescent states, but as 

 his descriptions of the larval stages are mostly coloratioual and omit the 

 exceptional structural features, we append those drawn up from our 

 own notes: 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



Agrotis annex a. — Larva. — Average length, 3S mm . General color dark gray, with 

 a slightly purplish tinge on the dorsum ; venter dingy white. Head same color, 

 slightly polished, with indistinct, pale, brownish markings ; the triangular frontal 

 piece bordered each side by a dark brownish stripe, which continues in an obtuse 

 angle on the vertex, and is crossed by some short transverse lines; a brown stripe 

 below the eyes; quite smooth, with only a few shallow transverse wrinkles. Clypeus 

 whitish, wilh six quite deep impressions ; mandibles light brown at basal half, the rest 

 black, and the edge with five teeth. Cervical shield grayish, with narrow, white 

 median line; front margin somewhat darker; near lateral angle a paler, rather indis 

 tinct, roundish spot, which extends to the front margin in a tine line. Mediodorsal 

 line very indistinct, and bordered each side by a dusky shade. A somewhat irregular, 

 more or less distinct, narrow, dusky line runs from anterior margin of each joint 

 in an oblique direction to posterior piliferous wart; subdorsal line dark gray, 

 though not very distinct; space below subdorsal line somewhat paler than dorsum, 

 and with indistinct, irregular, dusky marks ; supra-stigrnatal line whitish, bordered 

 above by an interrupted blackish line ; piliferous warts dusky, and somewhat polished ; 

 stigmata deep black. The whole body, dorsally and neutrally, is closely covered with very 

 minute, blackish granules, each of which bears a small, sharp point or tooth, on account of 

 which the surface appears and feels roughened to the touch or as if covered with fine sand. 



There is considerable variation in color, the smaller specimens being generally paler, 

 though there are also some full-grown ones of the same color; others, both small and 

 large, are almost black. All varieties of this species may, however, be recognized by 

 the characteristic granulations of the body. (For details see PI. II, Fig. 1, b, c, d, e.) 



Pupa. — Length, about 18 mm . Color reddish-brown, with a somewhat darker median 

 line on abdomen. Head small, with the front slightly prolonged; a more or less deep 

 impression between base of antenna?. Prothorax transversely wrinkled, the wrinkles 

 quite coarse towards posterior margin; posterior lateral angle with a dark-brown 

 transverse swelling, which closes the first spiracle; mesothorax almost smooth, with 

 a short subdorsal, longitudinal impression each side; metathorax and the following 

 three abdominal joints with quite anumberof fine transverse wrinkles; abdomen with 

 joints 4-7 anteriorly with a transverse, rounded ridge, marked with quite a number 

 of very coarse and deep impressions, the posterior margin being very finely granu- 

 lated ; stigmata black ; tip of last joint dark brown, ending in two stout teeth, each 

 terminating in a very fine spine, w r hich is curved downward; each side, just before 

 the tip, is a small blackish tubercle, and, dorsally, a little in front of this a short spine. 

 (See Fig. 1,/, (J.) 



THE SHAGEEENED CUT- WORM. 



(Larva of Agrotis malefida Guen.) 



[Plate II; Fig. 3.] 



This cut-worm, which has also been noticed to feed upon the cabbage- 

 plant, appears to be confined to the Southern Atlantic States, from the 

 District of Columbia to Alabama. Its habits are very similar to those 



