THE STEIPED BEET CATEKPILLAK. 17 
Only nine moths of the second generation developed in the cages 
and, unfortunately, all were females. They deposited hundreds of 
eggs which were infertile, failing to hatch. Judging from the records 
which were obtained the previous fall it may be concluded that there 
are three full generations each year. 
EGG-LAYING RECORD. 
On September 17, 1911, a female moth was captured and placed in 
a cage. Eggs were deposited as follows: 
Eggs deposited. 
September 19 123 
September 20__ 114 
September 21_L 82 
September 22 : 78 
September 23 1 82 
September 24 25 
Total 504 
The moth died September 25. 
NATURAL ENEMIES AND OTHER CHECKS. 
As previously noted, the pupa? are formed in earthen cells, near the 
surface of the soil, in the beet fields. When the beets are cultivated 
or plowed out at harvest time, many of the cells are broken open and 
the pupae crushed or exposed to the weather. This is an efficient 
check. 
During the winter of 1911-12 the minimum temperatures at Rocky 
Ford ranged from — 15° to — 26° F. This exceptionally cold weather 
apparently killed many pupae. 
In addition to these factors in control, there are several species of 
parasitic and predaceous insects which serve to check the increase of 
the Mamestra larva?. The following records were obtained at Rocky 
Ford : 
Microdus inedius Cress., a braconid, was reared July 9, 1912. It is 
a medium-sized red and black insect with dusky wings. 
Meteomis sp. (Chttn. No. 597), a smaller braconid, honey yellow in 
color, was reared July 11. 
A still smaller species, a braconid (Chttn. No. 598), was reared 
August 1, but not positively identified. The body is black, the an- 
tenna? and legs are yellow, and the abdomen is marked with yellow. 
The larva? of this parasite feed externally, in a cluster, on the dorsal 
surface of the Mamestra larva?. 
Phorocera daripennis Macq., a tachinid, was reared August 4. 
This fly is a common cutworm parasite. 
Perilloides bioculata Fab., a pentatomid, was frequently found 
stabbing the partly grown Mamestra larva?. 
