15 
the accompanying illustrations, will suffice for practical purposes for 
the identification of these stages. 
The egg. — At a of figure 2 the egg is shown above from the side, very 
much enlarged, and from above in the lower figure. The diameter is 
about half a millimeter, or about one thirty-second of an inch; but as 
the eggs are deposited in clusters of from 50, 60, and more, they may 
readily be detected in the exposed places on blades of grass and on 
leaves selected by the parent for their deposition. The surface is 
ribbed, as illustrated, and the color is dull white, with a pearly luster. 
The whole egg mass is covered with mouse-colored down from the 
body of the parent. 
The newly hatched larva. — The larva when first hatched is quite 
unlike the full-grown caterpillar, the head being much larger in pro- 
portion and the body more hairy, presenting the appearance shown at 
coi figure 2. Its general aspect at this stage is nearly black, but after 
feeding the young larva becomes greenish, 
taking this color from the food which it has 
eaten. In this illustration the larva is neces- 
sarily shown lighter than in nature, in order 
that the hairs and markings may be seen. 
The mature larva. — The same variability 
observed in the coloring of the mature in- 
sect is seen in the caterpillars. When full 
grown they measure about an inch and a 
f ,„ . -, ,, rr^i i t i > i Fig. 2 -Laphygma frugiperda: a, 
halt in length. Ine larva? resemble the eg g from side in upper figure; &, 
common army worm in many particulars, from above in lower figure; c - 
. . . 1 newly hatched larva; a, c, much 
and especially IS this true of the lighter magnified; b, somewhat enlarged 
forms. (original). 
The bod} T is striped on a ground color which varies above from pale 
yellowish-brown, dull dark olivaceous or jmrplish -brown, to black, 
more or less strongly streaked and intermixed with dull yellow. 
Three thin stripes of pale yellow extend along the dorsal surface 
through the thoracic shield to the -anal extremity. The dorsal or mid- 
dle line is nearly straight, and the subdorsal ones are feebly sinuate 
with the prominence of each segment. On each side there is a broad 
yellow undulating line, more or less strongly mottled with red, partic- 
ularly in the vicinity of the abdominal legs. The ventral or lower 
surface is paler, varying from dull yellow to greenish, sometimes very 
mental or Prodenia-like forms were represented chiefly by males. In response to 
inquiry as to whether this rule held good in series from other sources, Dr. John B. 
Smith wrote, under date of February 3, that such was not the case, and that there 
are some localities where only the dull forms have been found, and others where 
only bright forms are obtained, but that where the two forms occur together in one 
locality it is quite possible that the Prodenia-like forms may be mostly males. Both 
sexes, however, mav be found in both forms. 
