14 
INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETABLE AND TRUCK CROPS. 
During July, August, and early September the larvae were mod- 
erately common on beets, but the infested areas were scattered and 
practically no damage resulted. Late in the fall they developed in 
considerable numbers on beets in some fields. At this season, how- 
ever, the infested 
beets were mature, 
and no noticeable 
damage resulted. 
The majority of 
these larvae reached 
maturity during 
October, and many 
pupa? were observed 
during the latter 
part of the month 
and in early No- 
vember. The winter 
of 1911-12 was ex- 
ceptionally severe, 
and the extreme 
cold a pparentl y 
killed the pupa?. Xo live individuals were found during the following- 
spring, and the larvae were very rare throughout the summer of 1912. 
CO 
Fig. 4. — The striped beet caterpillar (Mamestra trifolii) 
a, Moth ; b, caterpillar ; c, pupa. Enlarged. (Original.) 
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND HABITS. 
The adult of the striped beet caterpillar is a stockily built moth be- 
longing to the lepidopterous family Noctuidae. (See fig. 1. a.) 
The fore wings 
are dull grayish 
brown and have 
an expanse of 
about l T 5 e inches. 
The hind wings 
are grayish, with 
brown markings. 
The moths are 
attracted to lights 
but are sluggish 
and. except for oc- 
casional individ- 
uals which may be found resting on boards, telegraph poles, and in 
similar locations, are seldom seen by the casual observer. 
The eggs (fig. 5) are rather large, pearly white or pale yellow, 
ribbed, and hemispherical. They are deposited singly on the under- 
side of the leaves. 
Fig. 5. — The striped beet caterpillar: Eggs. (Original.) 
