EEPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



233 



of Agrotis annexa Tr., the preceding species, in company with which, 

 though only in small numbers, it is generally found, and from which it 

 is not at first sight easily distinguished, having the same size, shape, 

 general coloration, and markings. Yet a careful examination will ena- 

 ble its separation from annexa by the general surface appearing minutely 

 shagreened and lacking the spinous elevations that cover annexa and 

 cause it to feel rough when handled, while malefida feels smooth. It is 

 also nocturnal in its habits and a quite general feeder, affecting, among 

 other plants, young cotton. It also feeds freely upon clover, grass, and 

 different weeds. It lives almost exclusively underground iu a tunnel 

 several inches in length, into which it drags the cut-off leaves and stems 

 to devour them unmolested. It transforms about an inch below the 

 surface, in an oval cavity, without a trace of silk. The eggs of this 

 species are yet unknown/ 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



Agrotis malefida. — Larva. — Average length, when full grown, about 35 mm . 

 Smooth, with a greasy aspect, and, under a good lens, very finely shagreened. Color 

 uniformly pale gray, with the venter somewhat paler. Medio-dorsal line scarcely 

 noticeable. A more or less distinct, rather broad, dull yellowish subdorsal line, illy- 

 defined above, but bordered below by a line which is scarcely darker than the ground 

 color, but is itself well defined below by a faint and narrow pale line ; a faint and irreg- 

 ular supra-stigmatal shade and a dusky stigmatal line. Stigmata large and polished, 

 deep black. Piliferous warts normally placed, brownish, polished, each with a short, 

 stiff, brown hair, that immediately behind the stigmata much the largest. Anal shield 

 with the posterior edge lighter. Cervical shield more distinctly mottled with brown 

 and with a paler median line. Second and third thoracic joints divided transversely 

 by five narrow and quite deep wrinkles, with the transverse row of piliferous warts 

 on the third wrinkle. Head rather small, nutant, and partly withdrawn, finely sha- 

 greened like the body, and either uniformly yellowish-brown with larger or smaller 

 dark spots, or marked in front with the two usual brownish oblique stripes; frontal 

 triangle concolorovs ; clypeus with six quite deep impressions and almost white ; 

 labruin bilobed, the lobes much rounded; antenna?, as usual, with the first joint 

 white, the others yellow. Mandibles with five teeth, black ; the basal half externally 

 yellowish. 



Pupa. — Average length, 18 mm . Of normal form, yellowish-brown, polished; anal 

 tip short, somewhat conical, and finely wrinkled, furnished with two short, stout, 

 black thorns which at tip are slightly bent down and of a yellowish color. 



THE W-MAKKED CUT-WOKM. 

 (Larva of Agrotis clandestina Harr.) 

 [Plate II; Fig. 4.1 



This is a very common insect in the Northern and Western States 

 and in Canada. It was originally described by Dr. Harris, from speci- 

 mens reared in Massachusetts, and also from a specimen received from 

 Dr. F. E. Melsheimer, of Dover, Pa. Dr. Melsheimer called the larvSB 

 u corn cut- worms," and stated that, while their choice of food was not 

 limited, they seemed to prefer young maize shortly after it makes its 

 appearance above ground. They will feed, however, on all sorts of suc- 

 culent vegetables ; and early sown buckwheat, young pumpkin-vines, 

 beans, and cabbages are particularly mentioned. 



In our first report on the insects of Missouri we made especial men- 

 tion of this species, stating that it seems to prefer to attack low bushes 

 iike currant, rather than to climb trees, indicating cabbage as especially 

 liable to its attack, and mentioning also the fact that apple buds are 

 occasionally eaten by this species. We also mentioned that it fed upon 



