400 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



were supposed to be injuring crops on all sides, they all attributed the 

 disappearance to the heavy rains, and thought that no other agenev 

 had assisted. Be this as it may, the fact that they suddenly did disap- 

 pear remains unchanged. 



CUT-WORMS. 



During the latter part of May and early June several species of cut- 

 worms were observed to be quite numerous in gardens and corn-fields 

 in the vicinity of West Point, where they did some damage by cutting 

 off the tender plants as they appeared above ground. The most abun- 

 dant of these was the larva of Agrotis saucia. Some climbing cut- 

 worms were also observed to work on the cottonwood and box-elder 

 trees. These were, however, in small numbers. 



THE IMPORTED CABBAGE-WORM. 



(Pier is rapec.) 



This Cabbage pest has been steadily on the increase in Nebraska for 

 the term of eight or nine years, the date when it was first observed by me 

 to injure cabbages in and about Omaha. It has now become equally, if 

 not more, numerous and destructive in the eastern and central portions 

 of the State than in some of the older Eastern States, where it has ex- 

 isted in injurious numbers for many years. This extraordinary increase 

 is evidently due to the absence of all or nearly all of its natural ene- 

 mies, and also to the fact that up to the present time no special efforts 

 have been made by our gardeners and farmers towards checking its 

 rapid increase. As an example of the great numbers of this insect that 

 are to be found in this section of country, I will mention a single in- 

 stance that has come under my direct notice and which has had my 

 personal attention. In a certain kitchen garden adjoining West Point, 

 in which were planted seventy-six cabbages, and which the owner has 

 endeavored to keep free from the worms by hand-picking, upwards of 

 six thousand of them have already been destroyed. This estimate is 

 not by guess, but by actual count. As large as the number thus de- 

 stroyed may appear, there are still many worms to be found on these 

 cabbages, the leaves of which have been much riddled with holes, de- 

 spite the vigilance. At another locality, 1G miles to the southwest of 

 this, the butterflies were observed iu myriads, so to speak, hovering 

 over a large field of beets, in the midst of which grew a few cabbages, 

 and to which they appeared to be attracted from all directions. Among 

 the few insects that destroy the worms in this State, several species of 

 burrowing wasps* are quite conspicuous. 



These capture the larva3 of all sizes, but chiefly those chat are about 

 two-thirds grown, and carry them away to their burrows where they 

 are stored for food for the young wasps. I have also observed recently 

 that during the cool, wet weather which we have been having, num- 

 bers of the worms of various ages have died from what appears to be a 

 disease. When thus attacked they become limp, and turn a yellowish 

 color, and afterwards mold. I have observed that such varieties of 

 cabbage as have very solid heads and few base leaves, are less liable 

 to injury than those in which the reverse is the case. Tough-leaved 

 varieties are also less injured than the tender ones. 



* Sjphex apicaHs Sm., Ammophila vulgaris Cr. and Pompihis cetMojys Cr. 



