88 



Cervical sliield and anal plate but little darker than the general 

 surface, — both with the median and subdorsal white lines distinct. 

 All the other lines nearly or quite obsolete on the thoracic seg- 

 ments. Head pale shining yellowish brown, with the two median 

 longitudinal dark brown lines very broad and distinct, not meeting 

 at the middle. Another pair of lines just above ocelli, and a 

 variably distinct additional pair at the lower edge of the ocellar 

 region. The remainder of the surface with regular reticulations of 

 brown, except the frontal triangle, which is plain, or sometimes 

 blotched with brown. Length one and one fourth inches. 



This cutworm is an earlj^ species, is evidently single-brooded, 

 and hibernates about half grown, — the greater part of the brood 

 being nearly full grown in very early seasons by April 1,- in 

 ordinary j^ears by the middle of that month. The active life of 

 belated larva^ was practically over May 7, at which time prepara- 

 tions for pupation were noticed. Imagos emerged from our spring 

 larvae from July 24 to August 8. In the miscellaneous collections 

 of the office the -moth has occurred August 4, 12, 14, and 17, and 

 September 2. 



Our specimens of this cutworm were obtained from pastures 

 and meadows, and bred on grass. 



The Dingy Cutworm. 

 {Aqroiis suhgothica, Haw.) 



(Plate III., fig. 4.) 



This was the most abundant cutworm in Southern Illinois in 

 1887; and, next to morrisoniana, the commonest and most destruc- 

 tive throughout the State in l!S88. Its principal injuries were done 

 in meadows and clover fields, its preference for clover being quite 

 decided, as shown both by observation and by breeding experi- 

 ments. It was observed also to feed freely in the field on straw- 

 berries, corn, wheat, sweet potatoes, and beans. Unlike its still 

 more abundant companion sj^ecies, its principal injuries were soon 

 finished, the greater part of the brood having ceased their depre- 

 dations by the first of June. 



In our collections, well grown larvR3 occurred as early as April 

 16; and by April 25 a greater part of a large collection were 

 three fourths to full grown. Preparations for pupation had begun 

 May 18, but a few in both field and laboratory continued to feed 

 until the 9th of June, and others were found under ground, as 

 living larvM', July 19. Moths emerged in 1887 from August 19 to 

 30. S(jme specimens less than half an inch long were found hiber- 

 nating January 24. 



DESCltllTION OF LAllVA. 



This cutworm is charactoiizod by a distinct l)ulVy gray dorsal 

 areH, mottled with dusky and marked with a faint herring-bone 

 pattern of \'-sliai)ed dusky shades, a[)ex forward, one to each seg- 



