94 



abundant abroad until about the 27tli of that month. May 15 the 

 larva was noticed eating tomatoes in gardens in Southern Illinois, 

 and June 1 it was feeding freely upon sweet potatoes in Cham- 

 paign. 



A fuller description than has been hitherto published will be 

 useful for the precise identification of the larva. 



DESCRIPTION OF LARVA. 



This cutworm may be most easily recognized by the sooty brown 

 color finely mottled with gray, the back slightly darker than the 

 sides,, with a small yellow spot on the middle of each of several 

 central segments, and a dark patch on the segment before the 

 last. These median yellow spots are in an interrupted or contin- 

 uous yellowish or grayish line, and in front of each is a sooty 

 blotch, divided by the median line. 



An interrupted ^ ale yellow subdorsal line, bordered above by an 

 interrupted sooty line. A wavy, sooty-brown, crenate stigmatal 

 line, narrowed at the middle of each segment by a lighter exten- 

 sion from the space above, terminating in a pale spot just behind 

 the stigmata. A conspicuous yellow substigmatal stripe, repand 

 above, mottled with red along upper edge, shading below into 

 colors of venter, which are greenish dusky mottled with yellowish 

 gray. Surface smooth, opaque, with a few very short hairs; pilif- 

 erous spots inconspicuous. Stigmata black, not prominent. Head 

 reddish yellow, with rufous reticulations, a darker line curving 

 over the ocelli. Triangular front bordered each side by a broad 

 black line contiguous at middle, thence less distinct and black 

 and curving outwardly to back of head. Cervical shield not dif- 

 ferentiated. On segment 10 the sooty dorsal spots form an indis- 

 tinct W, less distinctly traceable on the other segments. On segment 

 11 they are fused into a transverse pentagonal spot, whose posterior 

 border is very distinct, the space behind, and on segment 12 to the 

 anal p>late, being pale yellow with rufous reticulations, except for 

 a narrow blackish W on segment 12. Anal plate with obscure 

 dorsal and subdorsal lines. Prolegs shining brownish, dusky at 

 base. 



The Pink-backed Cutworm. 

 {Mamestra mediUda, Gr. ) 



(Plate IV., llg. 4.) 



5^^ Occasionally, among the more abundant species of the Inst two 

 years, occurred a cutworm readily recognized by its usually ob- 

 scure and dusky color, overlaid with a pinkish or orange tint upon 

 the back, and sometimes also upon the lower part of the sides. 

 It was found from Fel)ruary 28 to May 22 in meadows nnd grass 

 lands lately plowed. Six'cimens collected at the latter date had 

 entered the earth July 11, and completed their transformation 



