second brood appeared July 29. Our miscellaneous collections of 

 the imago made by sugaring and from the electric light (where, 

 however, the species rarely appears) bear out the above division 

 into two broods, a lapse occurring from June 13 to August 4, 

 after which the moth was taken occasionally to September 2. The 

 fall brood of this cutworm does little, if any, injury, and the 

 spring brood may ordinarily be expected to cease its mischief by 

 about the first of May. 



Among the food plants of the spotted cutworm, we have noticed 

 Lobelia and Helianthus; and a single specimen was seen in spring 

 to eat the eggs of grasshoppers. 



The Chocolate-striped Cutworm. 

 {Acjrotis hicdrnea, Guen.) 



(Plate III., fig. 3.) 



This species seems not usually destructive in Illinois, but is 

 here mentioned because of the general similarity of its period of 

 development and feeding habits to those of the more injurious 

 species. 



DESCRIPTION OF LARVA. 



This is a distinctly striped cat worm, of rather light color, 

 especially distinguished by the strongly marked dark stigmatal 

 stripe, the greater distinctness of the lines behind, and the round 

 black spots or dots surrounding the piliferous tubercles upon the 

 posterior segments. These are commonly, but not invariably, much 

 more distinct here Hhan in front. A dusky brown dorsal band, 

 uniform, or with wavy margins, divided by a light median line 

 (which is sometimes obsolete before the middle) occupies the 

 area between the two inner rows of piliferous spots. The dark 

 stigmatal stripe varies from medium brown to dark chocolate or 

 nearly black. It ends on the 11th segment, and on the thorax 

 usually becomes confused with the ground color. 



THe stigmata are commonly white, rimmed with black. Sides 

 above the stigmatal band dusky flesh-color or cream-color, much 

 specked with black, and divided by a cream-colored subdorsal 

 line bordered with black or brown, the upper border darker and 

 broader on the 9th, 10th, and 11th segments. The inner row of 

 piliferous spots usually much the most conspicuous, often forming two 

 quite evident rows of small circular blotches extending the wdiole 

 length. 



The substigmatal area with a rather distinct cream-colored or 

 flesh-colored band above; below greenish mottled with whitish and 

 brownish. Venter between the prolegs commonly plain, and, like 

 the latter, whitish or pinkish. The remainder of under surface 

 like the lower part of substigmatal area. Jointed legs commonly 

 pale })rown. 



