56 
INJURY IN GREENHOUSES. 
The following reports of injury in greenhouses have reached this 
Division in the last few years, each communication having been accom- 
panied by specimens: 
December 19, 1894. word was received from the Florists' Exchange, 
New York City, that this species was very destructive to rose and 
carnation plants in greenhouses near that city. 
April 29, 1895, through the American Florist, Chicago, 111., a report 
was received that the cutworm was very destructive in greenhouses. 
In 1898, Mr. John Spaulding, New London, Conn., writing April 12, 
stated that this cutworm bored into the calyx of carnation flowers and 
cut up the petals, and, but for the vigilance of his employees in hunt- 
ing it nightly, it would have destroyed a bed 40 by 6 feet. October 
26, moths were received from Mr. B. E. Scruggs, Campbell, Ya. 
This cutworm was found on cultivated violets at that place. Novem- 
ber 25 of the- same year larva? were received from Mrs. F. B. Boone, 
Charlottesville, Ya., with the statement that they were found in violet 
houses and ate the blossoms. 
MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS. • ' 
In addition to the larva? which have been mentioned as having been 
observed in the neighborhood of the District of Columbia and as hav- 
ing been received from correspondents, others were taken at intervals 
in and near the city of Washington during 1900 — August 16 on 
squash and September IT on plantain (Plantago lanctolata). Pupation 
of individuals received from the Pacific States began early in August, 
and by the middle of the month many had transformed. The first 
moth obtained issued August 25 from material received from Olga, 
Wash. From moths in confinement eggs were obtained August ^7. 
which began hatching at 3 p. m. of September 6, the duration of the 
Qgg stage in this instance having been about ten days. From this lot 
larva? matured October 3, or in twenty-seven days. Hence we may say 
that the larval stage in the warm weather of fall which prevails in the 
District of Columbia is about four weeks. When in ordinarily fine 
earth the larva constructs a quite firm cocoon, at least in the autumn. 
Possibly earlier in the season a less substantial one is made. 
BIOLOGIC LITERATURE. 
As this is one of the most destructive as well as best known cut- 
worms of North America its economic literature is considerable. In 
European writings it is seldom noticed as injurious. 
It was given its specific name by Huebner in 1816 (Samml. Eur. 
Schmett. Xoct., p. 378), but is credited with having been first described 
and figured by Ernst <fc Engrammelle as La Bubiconde in 1790 (Papil- 
lons d'Europe, Yol. YII. p. 65. pi. 278. fig. 455). It appears to have 
been first recognized in this country, as previously noted, in 1811, by 
